DFM Reports & Books

Processed fish plays a critical role in Cambodia as a source of livelihoods, food security, nutrition, and cultural identity, particularly for poorer households and women. Despite a substantial body of literature on fisheries and fish processing, existing research remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive focus on the processed fish sector. Technical studies have primarily examined processing methods and chemical composition, while broader fisheries research has addressed socio-economic, environmental, nutrition, and governance dimensions only in partial and indirect ways. Much of the available evidence is also outdated, leaving important gaps regarding current value chains, labour dynamics, supply sources, marketing routes, and changing socio-economic conditions. This scoping report synthesizes existing literature and identifies major knowledge gaps across fish capture, processing, and trade. Prior studies have focused heavily on freshwater fermented fish, particularly prahoc, with limited attention to marine-based products such as shrimp paste (kapi) and other processed products including smoked, salted, and dried fish. Furthermore, little research has examined changing food preferences, cultural practices, gendered labour roles, migration, seasonal supply variations, or the nutritional and cultural significance of processed fish in contemporary Cambodian society. The report presents an overview of processed fish types, production volumes, consumption patterns, gender dynamics, and value chain structures, with a primary emphasis on processing and trade segments where data gaps are greatest. By highlighting these gaps and proposing key research questions, the study provides a foundation for future research to better understand the evolving processed fish sector and its role in livelihoods, markets, and food systems in Cambodia.