Singapore sand imports threaten an already sinking Cambodian fishing community, again
Editor’s note: *Cambodian fishers who spoke to Mongabay asked that pseudonyms be used, fearing reprisals. BANGKOK, Thailand — Sand mining vessels were once a familiar sight to residents of Koh Sralao, a fishing village in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province. But it had been a decade since anyone had seen them. That changed in June. “I […]
Cambodian fishers who spoke to Mongabay asked that pseudonyms be used due to fear of retaliation. In Koh Sralao, a fishing village in Koh Kong province, sand mining vessels have once again appeared after being absent for a decade. Rithy, a local fisher, observed around ten barges lined up near a waterway where he typically goes fishing.
These barges are part of a mining operation situated 10 kilometers upstream on the Trapeang Rung River, which provincial authorities have approved for sand extraction destined for export to Singapore.
According to official records, sand exports from June have been taking place to the city-state, where a Mongabay investigation suggests the material may be utilized in a government-backed reclamation project. This follows a decade ago when the Cambodian government imposed a ban on sand trade after politically connected companies had dredged vast quantities of sand from the surrounding estuaries, causing significant damage to ecosystems and livelihoods.
Today, local communities, conservationists, and activists are warning that the situation could repeat itself. The presence of the sand mining operation along the Trapeang Rung River in Koh Kong village is already impeding Rithy's access to a stretch of river where he used to fish. He explained, "It's impossible to go now because they will destroy my nets."
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
