It's a hectic and frantic time with Marine Conservation Cambodia which is why the website has been a little quiet. Bear with us, and as soon as we get some proper internet time, we'll be able to put up some really good stuff!
Marine Conservation Cambodia over the past 12 months has gone from strength to strength, this is mainly down to the dedication and commitment of the Marine Conservation Cambodia team and the volunteers that have given their time, energy and passion to help protect Cambodia's marine environment and the communities that depend on its resources.
Our achievments over the past year have started to change the tide of destruction that was rapidly destroying some of the most unique habitats in SE Asia. The protection of the Corral (one of the main Seahorse breeding grounds) and the creation of the largest community managed marine area in Cambodia has allowed an oppertunity for some of Cambodia's diverse marine habitats to begin recovery.
The surveys we have conducted have identified many new areas to be legislated for protection and increased the overall knowledge and documentation on Cambodian marine species, including the recent discovery of one new undescribed species of Nudibranch.
Our Seahorse project has brought national and international attention to Cambodia's diverse but declining Seahorse populations, leading to the creation of governmental sub decrees that now make it illegal by Cambodian law to catch or trade in Seahorses.
The close working relationship we have developed with the Cambodian Ministry of Fisheries has lead to the creation of a 4km buffer zone around the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. This zone was created to protected the diverse inshore areas around both islands from the large sand extraction vessels which are operating in Cambodian waters.
The changes have not only been at national level but also on the local community level, with volunteers running daily lessons at the Koh Rong Samloem school, the creation of a referal clinic for the Koh Rong Samloem community and the extra income generated through true eco-tourism has helped the local island economy creating jobs and small community run buisinesses that cater for the volunteers.
All together it has been an amazingly successfull year and with the continued support from volunteers and project supporters we can continue to achieve great progress.
A big thank you to all those who have been involved so far and a warm welcome to those that would like to join us in the future.
If you are interested in getting involved or supporting the project please contact us for more details
We are currently trying to raise money for the creation of two new Community Conservation areas, We are offering exclusive diving holidays at our project base on Koh Rong Samloem. All the money we can raise through the Scuba Diving will go directly to the community so that they can create new marker bouys to visually mark out the new conservation areas, it also goes towards the fuel they need to run patrols.
We have just discovered an unrecognised and undiscovered species of Nudibranch here in Cambodia.
Whilst on a research trip to the north end of Koh Rong our team of scuba divers and researchers found an amazing site with a huge biodiversity of species. During the course of one survey dive Paul Ferber discovered and photographed an unknown nudibranch.
