AKP Phnom Penh, March 31, 2026 --

The government fisheries agency is undergoing a major shake-up with three new deputy directors-general and numerous other appointments of scientists under a sub-decree issued last week.

Under a separate sub-decree, the government is merging numerous research institutes in the fields of agriculture, forestry, livestock and fisheries into a single Cambodian Agricultural Sciences Academy (CASA).

The new research institute — under construction in Takhmao near Techo International Airport — includes a new Fisheries-Aquaculture Research and Development Institute (FARDI)  along with the existing Cambodian Agronomy Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Rubber Research Institute of Cambodia.

NEW DEPUTY DIRECTORS-GENERAL

Under the sub-decree issued on Tuesday last week, Mr. Uy Ching, Mr. Thay Somony and Mr. Thor Sensereywath have been appointed as deputy directors general of the new General Directorate of Fisheries — previously known as the Fisheries Administration — under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Mr. Uy Ching was previously deputy director of the fisheries affairs department, Mr. Thay Somony was director of the aquaculture department and Mr. Thor Sensereywath was director of the finance, planning and international cooperation department.

Among other appointments, Mr. Chay Kongkruy — previously deputy director of the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute (IFReDI) — is now director of a new aquatic management department.

Mr. Yun Darith succeeds Mr Thay Somony as aquaculture department director. He used to be deputy director of the National Aquaculture Research and Development Institute (NARDI) on the Bassac River in Saang district in Kandal province.     

Mr. Phuong Tina — previously deputy director of the Mekong inspectorate department — is director of a new department of inspection. This covers fisheries in five areas— the Mekong River, the North Tonle Sap Lake, the South Tonle Sap, the Chaktomuk confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers in Phnom Penh, and marine fisheries.

Mr. Chap Siekheng is the new director of the general directorate’s secretariat. He was previously director of the Mekong inspection department.

Dr. Touch Bunthong — formerly deputy director of the Marine Fisheries Research and Development Institute (MARFReDI) in Sihanoukville — is now director of the business management department.

The sub-decree also contains appointments to CASA with Dr. Chhoun Chamnan, Dr. Lieng Sopha and Mr. Hang Savin all nominated as deputy directors-general of the new research institute in Takhmao. 

Dr. Chhoun Chamnan was previously director of the fisheries post-harvest department, Dr. Lieng Sopha used to be director of community fisheries and development, and Mr. Hang Savin was director of NARDI in Saang.

NEW FISHERIES-AQUACULTURE INSTITUTE 

Dr. Heng Kong — the former IFReDI director — has meanwhile been appointed director of FARDI, the new umbrella fisheries institute in Takhmao. He will oversee all activities at three fisheries research institutes and three research centres.

In addition to IFReDI in Phnom Penh, MARFReDI in Sihanoukville, and NARDI in Saang, Dr. Heng Kong will supervise the Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (FARDeC) in Peam Ro district of Prey Veng province.

The two other centres are the Marine Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (MARDeC) in Sihanoukville and the recently established Upper Mekong Aquatic Animal Production and Research Centre in Stung Treng.

In addition to the FARDI, CARDI and the rubber research institute, CASA includes the Animal Health and Animal Production Research Institute, the Forestry and Wildlife Research and Development Institute, the Agricultural and Agro-Food Engineering Research Institute and the National Agricultural Laboratory.

By Sao Da