Traditional fishing event sees 98K devotees attend
NEARLY 100,000 people flocked to the Boeung Trapeang Kram Lake, in Tbong Khmum province’s Memot district on February 17 to catch fish in a traditional celebration. Officials said the number was 50 per cent higher than last year, with one official suggesting there may have been “more people in the lake than fish”.
Oeun Rith, director of the Tbong Khmum provincial department of tourism, said on February 18 that the event was attended by several provincial leaders, and a huge crowd of people, including some foreigners.
He added that the crowd was estimated at around 98,500.
Provincial governor Cheam Chan Sophorn shared a video clip on social media showcasing people participating in the festivities, joking that there might be more people in the lake than fish.
The traditional fish catching celebration is organised every year, but this year saw more than 50 per cent more attendees than the 60,000 who took part last year.
“The increase is possibly because this year we decided to organise a concert near the lake, as well as an exhibition of local specialty foods,” explained Rith.
He added that the provincial administration also offered prizes to those who could catch the most fish, with first place receiving 500,000 riel ($125) and second place receiving 400,000 riel ($100), all the way down to the tenth placed fisherman, who went home with 50,000 riel ($12.50).
Rith said the provincial governor has continued to make the event bigger and bigger every year in order to remember ancestral traditions, as well as to create a fun occasion for the people.
Historian Sambo Manara explained that the event is held one per year, and only the use of traditional Khmer fishing tools is allowed.
“It is aimed at preserving our Khmer traditions, while educating the younger generations about the evolution of fishing materials from ancient times to present. Unfortunately today, there are instances of people using illegal fishing tools like electrified nets, which does irreparable harm to the Kingdom’s biodiversity,” he said.
According to the local authorities, Boeng Trapeang Kram Lake covers about 30 hectares, but people are only allowed to fish in one hectare. Fishing in the lake at all is prohibited until the authorities announce the date of the collective catching event.
A similar tradition is carried out in Siem Reap province. On February 11, local residents carried out a collective fishing event in Bangkaong village, in Prasat Bakong district’s Ampil commune.