Monday, 27 August 2012
By Chhay Channyda
Phnom Penh Post 
Irrawaddy dolphins swim in the Tbong Klah pool, in Stung Treng province, last year. Photo World Wildlife Fund/Hang Sereyvuth
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday approved a new sub-decree geared
toward increased protection of the endangered Mekong river dolphin
through a series of fishing and motorised transport restrictions in the
Mekong river in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.
The Council of Minister’s sub-decree, obtained on Friday by the Post, sets out to meet management and conservation obligations on Cambodia for the species.
“There are approximately between 155-175 Mekong dolphins remaining in Cambodian Mekong River under the conservation efforts of the government throughout the last six years,” the sub-decree reads.
Conservation efforts for the Mekong dolphins have increased after the species was listed in International Union for Conservation of Nature’s endangered species list in 2004.
The sub-decree bans the use of all kinds of fishing grills and motorised transport exceeding 30 kilometres per hour.
The clearance of forest and large-scale construction of infrastructure along the island near Kratie in the protected zone is also prohibited under the 12-point sub-decree.
Michelle Owen, acting country director of World Wildlife Fund in Cambodia, applauded the decree’s role in Mekong River conservation.
“To be effective the sub-decree must be supported by local communities along the Mekong river,” said Owen during Friday’s meeting. “The Dolphin Commission and the Fisheries Administration will also need strong backing from the Cambodian government and international donors to support enforcement of the sub-decree.”
The Mekong river dolphin protection zone covers 7,630 square metres and stretches 180 kilometres from Laos into Cambodia.
The Council of Minister’s sub-decree, obtained on Friday by the Post, sets out to meet management and conservation obligations on Cambodia for the species.
“There are approximately between 155-175 Mekong dolphins remaining in Cambodian Mekong River under the conservation efforts of the government throughout the last six years,” the sub-decree reads.
Conservation efforts for the Mekong dolphins have increased after the species was listed in International Union for Conservation of Nature’s endangered species list in 2004.
The sub-decree bans the use of all kinds of fishing grills and motorised transport exceeding 30 kilometres per hour.
The clearance of forest and large-scale construction of infrastructure along the island near Kratie in the protected zone is also prohibited under the 12-point sub-decree.
Michelle Owen, acting country director of World Wildlife Fund in Cambodia, applauded the decree’s role in Mekong River conservation.
“To be effective the sub-decree must be supported by local communities along the Mekong river,” said Owen during Friday’s meeting. “The Dolphin Commission and the Fisheries Administration will also need strong backing from the Cambodian government and international donors to support enforcement of the sub-decree.”
The Mekong river dolphin protection zone covers 7,630 square metres and stretches 180 kilometres from Laos into Cambodia.
To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda at channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com
2 comments:
Good job Hun sen,you did the right thing to protect these animals,once it is gone, its gone forever,so protect what we got,don't loose it.The something as our natural resources,if you don't protect it,let foreigners destroy it,it will be nothing for the next generation to enjoy it....
Good job protecting these dolphin Vietminh Hun Sen. You have enough time to worry about the dolphin but you have no time to worry about force eviction across the Banana Kingdom? You are the dumbest Prime Minister in te world. No Prime Minister ceded the land to the neighboring country. Your next policy is to cede the Khmer sea to the Vietnamese so you can kill more Khmer. You haven't solved any problems for the past 33 years. After you die a horrible death as a Khmer traitor. Cambodia will improve.
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