The Team-Up

This was a major joint research project between Kratie University and a bunch of impressive Japanese institutions, including experts from Nagasaki, Kyoto, and Fukushima Universities, plus the Osaka Aquarium. They presented all their findings at a science conference on November 13, 2025.

The whole goal of the conference was to show the scientific results and, most importantly, warn the public about the food safety and health risks of eating these fish. Even the Japanese Ambassador, H.E. UENO Atsushi, and a high official from the Ministry of Education were there, showing how serious this is.

The head of Kratie University, H.E. Ngy Laymithona, emphasized that this kind of international teamwork is crucial for tackling the toxicity problems these pufferfish cause in the region.

What They Studied

The project, which got money from Japan (JSPS), focused on four super important questions:

1. Toxin Levels: Why do the poison levels in the fish go up and down?
2. Where the Poison Comes From: How do the fish get the toxins from their environment in the first place?
3. Why People Still Eat Them: Understanding why local people keep eating these risky fish.
4. Making Them Safe: Is there any way to make freshwater pufferfish safe for people to eat?

The Big Reveal: The Fish Look Different & Are Different!

A main researcher, Professor Minoru Wada, showed off some detailed results. They looked closely at pufferfish samples from Kratie province and used DNA testing (mtDNA sequencing) to sort them into two groups:

• Pao sp. A: These fish have a short snout, and guess what? They were found to contain super high toxin levels!
• Pao sp. B: These fish have a longer snout with spines, and they had much lower toxin levels.

Important Takeaway

Professor Wada stressed that the pufferfish aren’t born poisonous. The toxins (like saxitoxins or STXs) are actually external—the fish build them up in their bodies by eating poisonous bacteria, algae (cyanobacteria), and other little things in the water.

He concluded that the next step is crucial: researchers need to figure out the precise link between the food the fish eat and how much poison they end up having in their bodies.

Basically, until they figure out how to stop the fish from getting poisoned by their environment, eating the short-snouted ones is extremely dangerous!

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The plenary session focused on examining and providing input on five crucial draft laws related to important regional and international agreements. The agenda included:

1. Draft Law on the approval of the Agreement on the ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework.
2. Draft Law on the approval of the Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons.
3. Draft Law on the approval of the First Protocol to Amend the Agreement on Trade in Goods of the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Area.
4. Draft Law on the approval of the Second Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area.
5. Draft Law on the approval of the Convention Establishing the Organization for Commerce for Unification of Laws (Unidroit).

The review and consultation process, led by Samdech Techo Hun Sen, aims to ensure that these agreements will enter into force in accordance with the Constitution and to promote national interests by enhancing regional and international cooperation in trade, food safety, and the harmonization of laws.

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This important meeting featured six core agendas:

1. Adoption of the Agreement on the ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework.
2. Adoption of the Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons.
3. Adoption of the First Protocol to Amend the ASEAN–Hong Kong, China, Free Trade Agreement.
4. Adoption of the Second Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).
5. Adoption of the Convention Establishing the International Organization for Mediation (IOMED).
6. Miscellaneous.

The five draft laws mentioned above are all legal instruments of international and regional cooperation that will help strengthen Cambodia’s economic, trade, and foreign policy cooperation, as well as promote national development in line with international law.

Following the review and discussion, the Senate Standing Committee, under the leadership of Samdech the Senate President, will submit its opinions to the National Assembly to proceed with the adoption procedures.

Source: Official Facebook Page of Samdech Techo Hun Sen

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