The Wonders of Aquatic Resources
Photostory By: CHEA SEILA
Publication Year: 2018
Authorized By: Wonders of the Mekong Project
Photostory Workshop By: Suthep Kritsanavarin / USAID Wonders of the Mekong Project
Life is connected heavily with water. If we have water, we have life, and if we have water, we have fishes. There are very few fishers that still maintain the practice of catching fishes by traditional fishing gears such as Cast net, Bamboo trap, and hook lines. Mr. Phoeu Noureas, 28, uses Cast-net and the second family, Mr. Kham Rab, 61, uses Chhneang Tram to catch fishes from the Kralanh stream and natural ponds connected to rice fields for home consumption. A variety of small fishes caught—and when getting fishes, their wives traditionally remove the heads of fishes and cook. Nowadays nutritionists recommend to eat whole fish, especially fish heads that contain vitamins and protein. Fishes are not only cooked fresh but a majority of the fish catch is processed as fermented products (Prohoc, Paok, or smoked fishes…) for preserving to eat in future days during the low fish catch season.
1. Pheu NouReas, 28 years old, husband of Pouy Ee does Cast net in Beung Thom (Big natural pond) next to the rice field in O’Kralanh Village, Kralanh commune/district, Siem Reap.
2. Mr. Kham Rab, 61, uses Chhneang Tram maded by bamboo to catch fishes from Kralanh Stream for a whole life. He has learned to make the Chhneang Tram from his old generations. From his memory, this gear has been used for many centuries as he saw his great-grandfather used this gear.
3. About 50% used Chhneang Tram in the past; Nowadays there is only 5 families us this gears while two families upgraded the material of making this gear from blue nets. Other fishers do not want to use this gear because it takes time and cannot catch more fish like the modern gears. Only dead stems of Snay trees could use for Samras put in the Chhneang Tram for attracting fishes. This gear is used from November to August while the water recedes from the river bank to bottom of the river. Fishes caught by this gear: Trey Khnang Veng, Trey Riel, Trey Chhapin, Trey Kol Prech, Trey Kros and rarely Trey Phtos, trey Khcheung…
4. Many kinds of wild small fishes are collected from O’ Kralanh stream from November to August. When water goes up too high, it is difficult to catch fishes.
5. Shrimp harvested from Beung Thom connected to rice field in O’ Kralanh Village.
6. Shrimp harvested from Beung Thom connected to rice field in O’ Kralanh Village.
7. Traditionally, villagers remove heads of fishes when they are cooking. From researches, heads of small fishes contains a lot of vitamins and protein.
8. Some fishes are cooked with vegetables for family consumption.
9. Besides cooking in fresh, some fishes and other aquatic animals are processed as Prohoc, Paok, shrimp paste, salted fishes for preserving and keeping for eating in couple months or a whole year.
10. Normally, mothers are normally taking care of preparing food for family and feeding children.
11. Children development with healthy and full of nutrition through eating fishes and other aquatic resources.
