After finishing the rice harvest, the villagers in Bang Korng village, Ampil commune, Prasat Bakong district, Siem Reap province, always gather to fish together to prepare food for a traditional spiritual ceremony.

This fishing ceremony takes place in an ancient pond where the villagers preserve the fish from overfishing, leaving it only for fishing together during the traditional spiritual ceremony, according to the APSARA National Authority.

Mr. Pich Khin, the village chief, said this year, there are lots of fish in the pond thanks to villagers’ better understanding and participation in conservation from year to year.

The village chief confirmed that every year, no less than one hundred kilogrammes of fish are caught and only his villagers are allowed to catch in the pond. After the villagers of Bang Korng have already held a fishing ceremony together, villagers from other places may have the right to fish in the pond the next day, he added.

Mr. Pheak Phorn, one of the fishing participants in Bang Korng village, expressed his happiness that his village has maintained this traditional ceremony.

Only traditional fishing gears are allowed at the joint fishing event.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press