The number of illegal fisheries shut down by authorities throughout the country totalled almost 4,000 cases in 2017, a 7.5 percent increase if compared to the same period in 2016.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries posted their annual report on Thursday last week, with the total numbers of illegal fisheries shut down amounting to 3,925 cases.

There were 3,888 cases of fresh water offences and 37 cases of sea water offences.

It added that authorities destroyed 150 kilometres of nets, while 80,000 kilograms of fish were also released.

The authorities fined offenders a total of 230,665,000 riel, or about $60,000.

The income from the fishery sector in 2017 was nearly three billion riel.

“We must strengthen regular collaboration with local authorities to prevent and suppress fishery crimes next year to eliminate illegal fisheries completely,” Agriculture Minister Veng Sakon said in the report.

Lay Viveth, director of the agriculture and fishery department in Pursat province said the situation was not much different from 2016, because some families still used illegal tools to fish, while others fished in restricted areas.

Interior Minister Sar Kheng ordered government officials to crack down on fishing crimes after travelling by helicopter over the Tonle Sap lake in January last year.

• Tags: fisheries, illegal fisheries, Interior Minister Sar Kheng, Lay Viveth, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries