Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Strategic Planning Framework for Fisheries in Cambodia

The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) addresses the Strategic Planning Framework for Fisheries 2010-2024 (SPF) and the National Aquaculture Development Strategy Policy (NADS), and the EU-Cambodia Programme for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the Fisheries (CAPFish) composed of two complementary components i.e. aquaculture and capture fisheries. These represent the major channels of implementation for fisheries and aquaculture development for the period 2017-2022 with an expected contribution of EUR 100 million from the EU. The SPF/NADS and CAPFish programme includes inland and marine fisheries including exploitation and conservation of stock and habitats, as well as aquaculture and institutional support.

The SEA looks forward to enhance environmental performance of CAPFish and also provide suggestions for the reorientation of the SPF/NADS in the near future. Overall, the SEA is very important as it considers the wider implications of different key issues for fisheries. This approach is paramount as fisheries are very important for the population of Cambodia and particularly inland fisheries and their migratory species. The role of the SEA is to assist the fisheries sector and evaluate and vulnerabilities, threats and issues, which could impede the ambitions of the SPF/NADS and CAPFish. This process also includes the analysis of key national policies encouraging the development of the fisheries sector.