THE KEP MFMA

The Kep Marine Fisheries Management Area (MFMA) is a government-designated marine protected and sustainably managed zone in the Kep Archipelago. It was created to conserve coastal habitats and support small-scale and traditional fisheries.

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Between 2008 and 2013, MCC assisted in the development and implementation of Cambodia’s first Marine Fisheries Management Area around the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem in Sihanoukville Province. Building on this experience, MCC was formally requested in 2013 to relocate in Kep Archipelago and work with government authorities on the planning of Cambodia’s second MFMA in Kep Province. Planning was led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Fisheries Administration, and Kep provincial authorities. Additionally, MCC contributed through scientific data on marine habitats and fishing efforts, as well as community consultations to help identify priority ecosystems and guide the zoning of the area.

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On the 12th of April 2018, MAFF officially established the Kep MFMA, covering 11,300 hectares across the archipelago. The MFMA protects critical marine habitats—including seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and shellfish beds—and provides refuge for endangered species such as Irrawaddy dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, and seahorses.

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Since its establishment, MCC has continued to support the MFMA enforcement through, habitat protection, research and ecological monitoring. Our Fishery Productivity Structures (FPS), which earned the 2018 National Geographic Society Marine Protection Prize, have played a key role in reducing destructive trawling and promoting ecosystem recovery. As a result, the MFMA has seen substantial seagrass regrowth, increased fish biomass, and the return of key marine species—clear indicators of ecological improvement.