PHNOM PENH – New marine fisheries management areas are planned for Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong provinces to preserve endangered marine species.

The Fisheries Administration (FiA) says three areas aim to preserve species such as seahorses, dugongs, dolphins and turtles.

The plan will ensure that family-scale fisheries are sustainable, fisheries resource protection is efficient, and natural eco-systems are promoted, said Ouk Vibol, director of the FiA Fisheries Conservation Department.

Marine Fisheries Management Areas (MFMA) will be located in Koh Sdech in Koh Kong, Koh Toch Island and Prek Tnaot river in Kampot, and Koh Karang Island in Kep.

Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, supported the plan and suggested further studies on fisheries resources, eco-systems and idea exchanges among stakeholders.

This aims to clearly determine the area scale and to ensure that fisheries management will be efficient to promote local people’s livelihood, Vibol said, adding that FiA’s working group will work on these aspects quickly.

There are already three MFMAs. Two are in Preah Sihanouk. One is on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sonleum which covers 40,535 hectares, and the other is in Prek Kampong Smach sanctuary which covers 10,923 hectares. The other one is on Koh Po and Koh Tonsay Islands, covering 11,307 hectares in Kep province.

The FiA considered three more places to be MFMAs, thanks to their potential as habitats full of coral reefs and seagrasses, which are important spawning shelters and for seawater species, some of which are endangered.

Vibol said there are clear borders around those areas with specific divisions for management such as for fisheries conservation, aquacultural development, small scale fisheries and agro-tourism.

The management is clear with a regular protection plan and preparations to prevent fisheries crime and to increase habitants for an artificial aquarium.

“No fishing at seabed or any fishing activities that damages the fisheries resources allowed in MFMAs,” he said.

In 2024, dugongs were seen for the first time in ten years, while pink dolphins and Irrawaddy dolphins numbers rose to more than 100. They showed up often at the beaches of Kep and Kampot provinces.

Minister Dith Tina said the return of dugongs and other endangered species showed that the Cambodian sea is safe and rich in food for those species, a result of better fisheries resource conservation, especially in protecting seagrasses and fish shelters.

As of December 2024, there were 104 Irrawaddy dolphins and 90 new-born sea turtles found on Polovai Island in Preah Sihanouk province.