PHNOM PENH, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recorded 33 percent decline in fish exports in the first half of this year, compared with the same period a year ago, showed the figure from the Fisheries Administration on Tuesday.

From January to June this year, the country has exported 16,000 tons of fresh and processed fish with an estimated revenues of 45 million U.S. dollars, 33 percent decrease from 24,000 tons with the total cost of 67 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year.

The fish has been exported to its neighboring countries Vietnam and Thailand, and also to Singapore, China's Hong Kong and South Korea.

Por Try, secretary of state for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said the decline was due to the enforcement on fisheries law by strong crackdowns on illegal fishing.

"Currently, we have been encouraging more raising of fish and we want to cut down fish exports in order to meet increasing local demand," he said.

In the first half of this year, Cambodia has yielded 377,500 tons of fish including 292,500 tons of fresh water fish, 47,000 tons of maritime fish and 38,000 tons of raised fish.