SVAY RIENG — Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet presided over the official celebration of National Fish Day on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, releasing approximately 1.5 million fish fingerlings and rare aquatic species into the Vaico River basin in Svay Rieng City.
Established in 2003, National Fish Day is celebrated annually on July 1 to raise public awareness and encourage citizen participation in the conservation and sustainable development of Cambodia’s vital fishery resources. The initiative aims to restore natural fish stocks, ensure national food security, meet daily nutritional needs, and support the livelihoods of local communities. On average, around 5 million broodstock, fingerlings, and native aquatic species are released into natural waterways across the Kingdom each year.
For this year’s event at the Vaico River basin, more than 20 local species of fish and aquatic animals—totaling 1.5 million—were released. The species included giant freshwater prawns, Mekong giant barbs, Mekong giant catfish, tinfoil barbs, striped catfish, walking catfish, and other indigenous varieties. Additionally, protected and local aquatic wildlife were introduced to the ecosystem, including 20 turtles, 10 kilograms of softshell turtles, 20 kilograms of eels, 15 kilograms of freshwater snails, and 20 kilograms of freshwater clams.
The Vaico River reservoir spans 1,686 hectares during the rainy season, holding up to 30 million cubic meters of water, and contracts to 1,350 hectares in the dry season with a storage capacity of 15 million cubic meters. The natural water body continues to serve as an indispensable resource for local communities, supporting family-scale fishing and supplying vital irrigation for agricultural production.
This marks the second time Svay Rieng province has hosted the National Fish Day celebrations at the Vaico River. The first event was celebrated in 2011 under the presidency of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the former Prime Minister and current President of the Senate.
