Cambodia takes green-conscious stance<\/p>\n
By Mark Dodd<\/p>\n
CHILLI RIVER, Koh Kong, Cambodia (Reuter): Cambodia has taken
\na green-conscious stance in a battle to preserve a dwindling
\nmangrove forest ecosystem being threatened by Thai-financed
\nCambodian shrimp farmers.<\/p>\n
The source of the problem is the growing appetite among
\nCambodians and Thais for shrimp, whose ocean population has
\nbecome severely depleted from years of over-fishing.<\/p>\n
With the local fleet's crustacean catch in decline, a handful
\nof Thai businessmen based in Trat province came up with the idea
\nof financing more than 100 shrimp farms in neighboring Koh Kong,
\nCambodia's most southwesterly province, just ten minutes by
\nspeedboat from Thailand.<\/p>\n
In the rush to establish shrimp farms along the lower reaches
\nof the Chilli River, vast swathes of pristine mangrove forest
\nwere cleared to allow the excavation of the 10,000-square metre
\n(11,960 square yards) breeding ponds.<\/p>\n
\"We have statistics on the mangroves and after a particular
\ninvestigation by the ministry we had reports from local
\nauthorities that the shrimp farms had expanded into the
\nmangroves,\" said Environment Minister Mok Mareth.<\/p>\n
\"Now the government has ordered the Ministry of Agriculture to
\nstop issuing licenses for shrimp farming -- temporarily.\"<\/p>\n
The decision was issued in cooperation with the environment
\nministry, Ministry of Agriculture and with the support of the
\ncountry's two prime ministers, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We will send our staff with the Ministry of Agriculture to
\nevaluate the possibility of shrimp farming along (other areas of)
\nour coastal zone,\" Mareth said, adding that Cambodia had just
\n30,000 hectares (74,100 acres) of mangrove forest, half the area
\nit possessed 25 years ago.<\/p>\n
Traveling upriver from Koh Kong port, the handiwork of the
\nshrimp farmers is easily visible, with skull and crossbones signs
\nscattered around to deter uninvited visitors.<\/p>\n
Gaping scars in the shape of large rectangular cleared areas
\namong the mangrove forest mark the site of a shrimp farm.<\/p>\n
A riverside workshed, piles of discarded feed bags, drums of
\nchemicals, fluorescent lights and the repetitive thump of dozens
\nof small diesel generators needed to power the oxygen paddles in
\nbreeding ponds complete the farm scene.<\/p>\n
Away from the chemically-colored shrimp breeding ponds, the
\nChilli River is a nature lover's paradise.<\/p>\n
A thick tangled forest of mangroves crowds right up to the
\nriverbank and is home to a diverse variety of wildlife.<\/p>\n
The mangrove forest provides a secure nesting area for many
\nbird species, in addition to its vital role in the food chain as
\nbountiful provider of organic nutrients.<\/p>\n
Koh Kong's vice-governor Ing Van said the shrimp industry was
\ncontrolled by about \"four or five big businessmen\".<\/p>\n
Ownership<\/p>\n
While Cambodians have nominal ownership, the farms are managed
\nand funded by Thais.<\/p>\n
The shrimp harvest is also mainly sold to Thais.<\/p>\n
One shrimp farmer, Sarin, said he had earned two million baht
\n(US$78,000) from two harvests in one year.<\/p>\n
\"Last year the price of shrimp went up -- and so did the
\nnumber of farms,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Freshly harvested shrimp were worth up to 300 baht ($12) per
\nkilo, said Sarin.<\/p>\n
He said more than 500 hectares of mangrove forest had been
\nillegally cleared despite its classification as \"forest
\nreservation\".<\/p>\n
The pursuit of \"quick money\" had resulted in the destruction
\nof the mangroves although properly managed shrimp farming could
\nbe an important source of income for Cambodia, Mareth said.<\/p>\n
The environmental impact of pumping pond water, heavily
\npolluted with shrimp excreta and chemicals, into the Chilli River
\nis also cause for concern about the long-term viability of the
\nKoh Kong mangrove forests.<\/p>",
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