Decision making authority

Local decision making authority was said to be held by the Sangkat Chief and Deputy, the Sangkat Police, the Navy (at the Sangkat village), the Royal Group, the Village Chief and Deputy, the village group leaders, and the Community of Fisheries Chief, Deputy, and the committee. As discussed in the literature review, Cambodian society is structured according to hierarchy and built on client- patron relationships. When discussing decision making authority a recognised hierarchical structure quickly became evident. At the bottom of this hierarchical structure (figure 5.13) of decision makers were the four village group leaders, above them the Village Chief and Community of Fisheries Chief, above them the Sangkat local authorities including the Sangkat Chief, and Police, and finally above them the Navy and the province administration. This is a similar structure across the rest of Cambodia.

Figure 5.13 Prek Svay governance structure

As described to me throughout the interview process

There are no formal plans in Prek Svay and the Phumi Prek Svay Community Fishery had yet to put together a Community Fishing Area Management Plan. People in the village were aware of rules surrounding the use of natural resources, particularly in regards to forestry and fisheries. In addition, the Prek Svay rules could be found displayed on a sign in the centre of the village (see figure 5.14), though reports of domestic violence, youth fighting, alcohol abuse, and gambling suggested that these rules were not always being followed.

There are 5 main points for the safety of the village and the community. These are:

1. No stealing or robbery

2. No producing, using, or selling drugs

3. No prostitution with women or children and no domestic violence 4. No gangster, teenage gangster, or gangs

5. No gambling, use of weapons, or abusive action

 Please involve together for the benefit of the village

 If you have any problems with these five please inform to the phone number below



Thankyou / special thank you for the King and people in top positions / special thank you for the Monks: Signed the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Figure 5.14 Prek Svay village rules

In addition to the village rules, the Community of Fisheries leadership also expressed that they had trouble upholding the Fishery’s rules and regulations due to lack of resources and training. When asked about the Community of Fishery laws some respondents believed that people in the village did not know about the rules.

“The fishermen don't understand about the law, the fishermen they don't know much about the law of fishing around here.”

Atith, Male, 31-50, Fishing

Others disagreed arguing that there was a general understanding by those involved in fishing about the rules and regulations. Montha, a retired fisherman explains:

“They understand about the rules, they understand about the law. He said that dynamite is illegal, electric fishing is illegal and they know about the hole [size] of the net…what they can use, like small, small not allowed to use. Also some place they are allowed to do fishing and some place they are not allowed to do fishing like that.”

It was acknowledged that although people know the rules they did not necessarily follow them. The general feeling among respondents was that it is the ‘outsiders’ with the ‘big boats’ that were the ones breaking the law, not the local community.

“They said that the people here, the local fishermen, they do not do illegal fishing. Most of them are from the mainland, from outside.”

Heng, Male, 31-50, Village Leader

These outsiders were described as being powerful and difficult to stop.

“Abusers of fishing [law] are from the outside and they are powerful. They have like big boat, some they have weapons. His biggest concern is that we have big boats from another place and that they still refuse to recognise our area and that our Community of Fishery has control. They have very big boats and they are powerful and they take many things and destroy many things. He said his team [the patrol team] does not have the power to stop them yet. He has experience one time when he went with the small speedboat to stop the big boat fishing, and he tied his boat to the big boat and his boat go and go, far and far.”

Sov, Male, 31-50, Village Leader

The Community Fishery patrol team was getting some support from the province Fishery Administration and the Song Saa Conservation and Community Program. Support was mainly in the form of fuel and patrolling equipment, including a walky talky communications system. Members of the patrol team suggested that there was still more equipment that would help to make them more effective. This included uniforms, binoculars, GPS, more walky talkys, and raincoats. Whether it was due to lack of resources or something else, such as lack of training, it was widely believed that fishery law enforcement was poor.

“It is not going well yet. He said even though some illegal fishing they [the authorities] go, but they go just for money not to arrest them [those breaking the law]. When the local people they have problem and they want some help from the authority or Community Fishery here, they will say no money for the action…then they are busy with a meeting. They don't solve the problem for the local people.”

Chanvatey, Male, 50+, Other Livelihoods

Chanvatey suggests that law enforcement officers were more concerned with bribes than they were with community support. Similar to attitudes on the distribution of natural resources, it was feelings like these that frequently emerged suggesting a lack of trust in the local leadership’s commitment to best practice. When I asked respondents who they would go to if they had concerns about the environment most people had some idea of who they would turn to, although there were some who

explained that they did not know. The local officials, who were cited as the decision makers above, were also the same people the community said they would approach if they had concerns about something happening in the environment. The Village Chief and the Community of Fisheries Chief were cited most frequently.

Even though most respondents provided an answer to the question, when asked if they had been to these people about such concerns in the past the majority explained that they had not. When questioned further it became clear that there was a feeling that approaching the local authorities about environmental issues was pointless as no action would be taken anyway.

“When they have problem with the environment he never informs to the Commune or to the Chief because he thought that they would never take action so he will never inform.”

Vannak, Male, 31-50, Fishing

Those who shared this perspective said that they would either do nothing or they would go to outside organisations, government departments, or the Navy rather than approach the local officials. For those who had approached local officials about environmental concerns there were three main issues that they had brought to the officials attention. These were rubbish pollution, illegal fishing, and breaches to Song Saa Private Islands marine protected area. In the village participation in decision making is limited to a select few with little bottom-up input. Respondents who were not in leadership roles appeared eager to have their rights recognised, their voices heard, and their opinions taken into account. It was suggested that there needed to be more civic participation in decision making than what was currently in place.

“All the leaders should listen to the people. To listen to the idea of the people when they do or make a decision to do something.”

Chanvatey, Male, 50+, Other Livelihoods