Within this community is a group that has been a mainstay of Tonle Sap for generations – the Cham fishers. These low-profile traditional fishermen are crucial to Cambodia’s fishing sector, driving production along the 120km, resource-rich Tonle Sap.
“Cham fishermen have been supplying fish and other seafood to the main markets in Phnom Penh and the surrounding areas for generations,” Chonkah village chief Eii Yu, 65, told Bernama from his wooden surau perched on the banks of the river.
The village, located in Chroy Changvar district in the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, is home to about 150 Cham fishers.
They live on rickety boats with their families and traverse the river, which flows from the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia’s northwest and links to the mighty Mekong River.
According to government data, annual Cambodia’s fisheries production is about 400,000 metric tonnes, of which at least half comes from the Tonle Sap River.
The Cham community has a unique history. About 500 years ago, their ancestors migrated over several centuries from the ancient Champa Kingdom – now part of modern Vietnam – bringing along with them their ancient culture, traditions, religion – and maritime skills.
“Fishing has always been one of their occupations because they live along the coastlines,” said Farina So, deputy director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia.
“Where there is a river, there is water, and you can find a Cham fisherman. River is their source of life.”
She noted that despite the country’s development, the Cham preserve their traditional survival strategy. “There are also a lot of women fishers and they are equally skilful. It is just not about traditional occupation – fishing keeps them happy and gives them the independence.”
Limited resources notwithstanding, Cham fishers continue to compete with their well-equipped and commercial-scale Khmer and Vietnamese counterparts who dominate the industry.
Eii Yu noted that while the Cham people continue to have the skills, the daily catch and fish-fry quantity is dwindling due to overfishing and illegal activity.
“Each fisherman harvests only about 10kg a day, unlike before when the catch could be triple,” the village head lamented.
About 800,000 Muslims, many of whom are Cham descendants, contribute to shaping modern Cambodia, which has a 17-million population of mostly Buddhists. Many hold senior government positions, while others have become entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and academics.
From their boats berthed along the soggy riverbanks that often flood during high tide, Eii Yu’s villagers have witnessed Phnom Penh’s rising prosperity.
And as night descends over the capital’s skyline, the Tonle Sap River unfurls another tale of the Cham fisherfolk – their daily struggles with dismal haul, poor income, and an uncertain future.