Phnom penh: The government fisheries agency is undergoing a major shake-up with three new deputy directors-general and numerous other appointments of scientists under a sub-decree issued last week.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, under a separate sub-decree, the government is merging numerous research institutes in the fields of agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries into a single Cambodian Agricultural Sciences Academy (CASA). The new research institute, under construction in Takhmao near Techo International Airport, will include a new Fisheries-Aquaculture Research and Development Institute (FARDI) along with the existing Cambodian Agronomy Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Rubber Research Institute of Cambodia.
The sub-decree issued on Tuesday last week announced the appointment of Mr. Uy Ching, Mr. Thay Somony, and Mr. Thor Sensereywath as deputy directors general of the new General Directorate of Fisheries, previously known as the Fisheries Administration, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Mr. Uy Ching was formerly the deputy director of the fisheries affairs department, Mr. Thay Somony was the director of the aquaculture department, and Mr. Thor Sensereywath was the director of the finance, planning and international cooperation department.
Additional appointments include Mr. Chay Kongkruy, who was previously the deputy director of the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute (IFReDI), and is now the director of a new aquatic management department. Mr. Yun Darith has succeeded Mr. Thay Somony as the aquaculture department director, having previously served as the deputy director of the National Aquaculture Research and Development Institute (NARDI) on the Bassac River in Saang district, Kandal province.
Mr. Phuong Tina, formerly the deputy director of the Mekong inspectorate department, has been appointed as the director of a new department of inspection, which covers fisheries in five areas: the Mekong River, the North Tonle Sap Lake, the South Tonle Sap, the Chaktomuk confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers in Phnom Penh, and marine fisheries. Mr. Chap Siekheng is the new director of the general directorate's secretariat, having previously served as the director of the Mekong inspection department. Dr. Touch Bunthong, formerly the deputy director of the Marine Fisheries Research and Development Institute (MARFReDI) in Sihanoukville, is now the director of the business management department.
The sub-decree also includes appointments to CASA, with Dr. Chhoun Chamnan, Dr. Lieng Sopha, and Mr. Hang Savin nominated as deputy directors-general of the new research institute in Takhmao. Dr. Chhoun Chamnan was previously the director of the fisheries post-harvest department, Dr. Lieng Sopha was the director of community fisheries and development, and Mr. Hang Savin was the director of NARDI in Saang.
Dr. Heng Kong, the former IFReDI director, has been appointed director of FARDI, the new umbrella fisheries institute in Takhmao. He will oversee all activities at three fisheries research institutes and three research centers. This includes supervision of IFReDI in Phnom Penh, MARFReDI in Sihanoukville, and NARDI in Saang, as well as the Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (FARDeC) in Peam Ro district of Prey Veng province. The other centers include the Marine Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (MARDeC) in Sihanoukville and the recently established Upper Mekong Aquatic Animal Production and Research Centre in Stung Treng.
In addition to FARDI, CARDI, and the Rubber Research Institute, CASA encompasses the Animal Health and Animal Production Research Institute, the Forestry and Wildlife Research and Development Institute, the Agricultural and Agro-Food Engineering Research Institute, and the National Agricultural Laboratory.