The Strategic Planning Framework for Fisheries: Update for 2015-2024. "Fishing for the Future". Volume 4.

This updated Strategic Planning Framework (SPF) for Fisheries is a nationwide sectoral document covering the 10-year period 2015-2014 and includes (i) fisheries sector achievements; (ii) the current potential and challenges; and (iii) an updated strategic approach towards achieving the Vision for the Fisheries Sector as defined in the previous SPF aiming to achieve the management, conservation and development of sustainable fisheries resources to contribute to ensuring people’s food security and to socioeconomic development in order to enhance people’s livelihoods and the nation’s prosperity. Although the SPF 2010-2019 remains the key planning framework of the fisheries sector, the document for the period 2019-2024 adds a pillar to the previous three ones to ensure that the sector is managed effectively in the face of unpredictable change and to meet the need to respond quickly and effectively through improved service delivery. The four pillars then are (i) Capture fisheries and management; (ii) Aquaculture, inland and marine; (iii) Fisheries value chain; and (iv) Regulatory and services. Each pillar has 3 outcome indicators, each with targets for the years 2017, 2020, and 2024.
To help eliminate hunger and malnutrition, the updated SPF focuses on (i) promotion of sustainable aquaculture; and (ii) development of fisheries value chain standards, processes and procedures to meet the food needs of the population and also increase their income.
In onder to make agriculture more productive and sustainable, main intrventions will be directed to (i) promote sustainable management and conservation of natural resources in freshwater and marine fisheries production; (ii) apply sound environmental principles in freshwater and marine fisheries; (iii) promote environmentally sustainable aquaculture; (iv) support reforestation of the flooded forest and coastal mangroves to provide a sustainable basis for fisheries resources to flourish; (v) improve the management of land and water for aquaculture purposes; and (vi) integrate aquaculture with agriculture.
To enhance more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the document envisages (i) to strengthen the role of women in the sector, in particular in fisheries management and fish farming; (ii) develop collaborative bodies which enable Community Fisheries to be represented and to have voice in policy decisions together with understanding the motives and needs of fishers for ensuring coherence in the aims for community management of fisheries; (iii) raise public awareness, in communities, nationally and in schools, of the importance of aquatic biodiversity and its conservation for the benefit of the economy, food security and livelihoods; (iv) research niche markets where Cambodian products could have an advantage and this will inform both aquaculture and processing plant development strategies; (v) diversificate fisheries products and add value for benefits, in domestic and export markets; (vi) develop legal instruments to ensure adequate safety and quality standards appropriate to market demands; and (vii) provide support to develop industry-wide collaborative bodies to represent the needs and aspirations of the different stakeholders along the value chain and to ensure their voice is reflected in policy decisions.
The resilience of livelihoods to climate change will be increased by (i) developing the sustainability of the fishery through the sector management and the associated habitats within an adequate legal framework; (ii) understanding the relationship of fisheries to other domestic sectors such as rice production, industrial development, land management, energy production and road construction in order to achieving a balance between these and fish for food security and export in an integrated way; and (iii) maintaining the quality of ecosystems, such as coastal, lake, flooded forest and river, to the long-term survival of the fisheries sector.
As for the Governance, it is required to (i) enable appropriate regulatory actions and services in the sector; (ii) develop the institutional capacity for providing effective services to enhance and maintain the safety and quality standards of fish produced in the country. The Fisheries Administration (FiA) aims to be established as the “competent authority” for fisheries quality assurance. To this end it (i) will work with other government agencies to provide laboratory facilities for the analysis of fish quality control to meet the requirements of major importing markets; (ii) will develop a fisheries inspection service designed to both enhance the safety and quality of imported and exported fish products. Still, keeping the planning process relevant to change will be the primary role of the M&E system. This will be done in accordance with the M&E system established under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the monitoring will be done on an annual and quarterly basis and supported by periodic site visits.