marine debris
ABOUT
At Marine Conservation Cambodia, we are deeply committed to protecting our marine and coastal environment. That is why we conduct weekly beach cleanups and underwater cleanups.
Plastic accounts for around 80% of all marine waste. Litter and improperly disposed plastic items travel through rivers and seas before eventually reaching the ocean. If current trends continue, by 2050 plastic could outweigh all the fish in the ocean. We witness this first-hand, everyday around Koh Ach Seh and the surrounding waters.
Since 2026, we have been systematically collecting data from both cleanup programs to better understand the scale and sources of marine pollution.
73 kg
of trash removed from beaches
9 kg
of trash removed from ocean
Beach Cleanups
Our team conducts regular cleanups across Koh Ach Seh, removing debris from the
shoreline and surrounding areas. All collected waste is weighed and recorded. This
helps us estimate the amount of plastic pollution impacting the island.
Reef & Underwater Cleanups
Underwater cleanups are carried out weekly by trained divers who remove trash from reefs and seabed habitats. Once ashore, collected items are sorted into categories to identify common sources of marine debris.
We also remove ghost gear, freeing entangled animals and reducing the risk of future entanglement events.
Beyond Cleanups
In addition to hands-on conservation, education is a key part of our work. At the moment, MCC primarily contributes to addressing plastic pollution through awareness and outreach. We inform the public about plastic waste and its impacts through our website, social media, and in-person discussions.