KOH KONG, Cambodia — Join Mongabay staff writer Gerry Flynn as he embarks on a crucial investigation along Cambodia’s coast, uncovering the effects of illegal fishing and unchecked coastal development on local communities.

In recent years, fish stocks in Cambodian waters have plummeted, leading to a dramatic decline in income for small-scale fishers. The primary culprits? Illegal commercial trawlers that are depleting these vital fishing grounds, jeopardizing the livelihoods of countless fishermen and their families. But the challenges extend beyond the sea. Private companies with powerful connections are aggressively acquiring coastal land, displacing local fishers and exacerbating their struggle for survival.

This video sheds light on these pressing issues, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect Cambodia’s marine environment and the communities that depend on it. Watch to learn more about the dire situation facing Cambodia’s coastal regions and the fight for their future.

Banner Image: Trawlers docked in the port of Sihanoukville are decimating Cambodia’s waters. Image by Andy Ball / Mongabay. 

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Small-scale fishers lose out to trawlers in race to catch Cambodia’s last fish