Establishment of Fisheries Refugia in Cambodia:
Background and Situation Analysis to Support

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Known Areas of Critical Significance to the Life-Cycles of Fisheries Resources

1. Koh Kong Bay

This is the largest estuarine ecosystem in Cambodia. It is influenced by freshwater from the continent during the rainy season. There are two streams influencing this estuary, namely Dong Tong and Trapeang Roung. This estuary has a large mangrove forest covered delta with an area of approximately 60,000 ha. The species diversity of the estuary is high (74 species). Rhizophora mucronata and Rhizophora conjugata are significantly important because their roots are the main habitats of green mussel, mangrove oyster and hermit crabs. Seagrass, especially Enhalus sp., is present at the delta of Trapeang Roung stream and the muddy beaches of the eastern part of the bay. Halodule sp. occurs in the area between the shoreline and Koh Kong Island, especially during the dry season. These areas are important habitat for mud and swimming crabs, cuttlefishes, and Penaeus and Metapenaeus shrimp. Shallow water mammals, including the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), utilise this area throughout the year. The collection and culture of the green mussel (Perna viridis) takes place in Peam Krasob, Koh Kong Bay. Fishers harvest hard-shell clams (Meretrix spp.) and the short-neck clam (Paphia undulate) in Thmor Sor.

Sea turtles nest in this area. Interviews with experienced fishers in Koh Kapic indicate a dramatic decrease in sea turtles since 1975. Approximately 100 nesting females existed in the area in 1975; however, there were only 28 in 1998. More than 1000 hatchlings per year were estimated in 1975 compared to only 200 in 1998 (Try 1999).

2. Botum Sakor National Park

Botum Sakor National Park is an excellent habitat for resident and migratory birds and a safe habitat for the brackish water crocodile (Crocodilus porosus); however, this species has never been positively identified (see section 2.1.3 Marine Reptiles). The coastal portion of the park is comprised of rocky and white sandy beaches and is a main location for coral reef habitats, as continental freshwater does not influence the area. Reef fishes are highly diverse (about 50 species). During November to January, this area is the main habitat of the Penaeus shrimp species, especially white shrimps, as they seek refuge from storms and strong northern winds.

3. Kampong Som Semi-Enclosed Bay

Kampong Som Bay is the deepest of the bay ecosystems but depth does not exceed 20 m. The northeastern coastal habitat is defined as Dong Peng Multiple-Use Area, where 2 major estuaries and mangrove wetland forest are located. The estuaries are fed by the Andong Tuk and Sre Ambel streams during the wet season, which leads to reduced salinity levels. These areas are the main habitats of dolphins, octopus, and other sea animals such as hawksbill, loggerhead, and green turtles. The latter often enter this area for nesting on the eastern beaches.

These areas are also the main habitat of jellyfish and molluscs. Koh Khchorng is the main harvesting area for blood cockle (Anadara spp.) and short-neck clam (Paphia undulate). Koh Khchorng is also a nursing ground for mud crabs. Fisherfolk collect large quantities of juvenile mud crabs (Scylla serrata) for fattening in local areas or in Viet Nam. Vinegar crabs (Episesarma spp.) are also caught in this area. These species spawn in mangrove areas around the full moon during September and October. Fishing grounds for the sentinel crab (Podophthalmus vigil) and mud crab are inside Kampong Som Bay (landed in Steung Hao). In offshore waters adjacent to Sihanoukville, fisherfolk target blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) (Jensen & Try 2002; Fishers pers. comm.). Nesting grounds for sea turtles are located in Koh Rong, Koh Rong Salem and Koh Polowai. The offshore islands, including Koh Tang and Koh Pring, are important nesting areas (Try, 1999; 2000; Fishers, pers. comm.).

4. Kampot Bay

This area is characterised by swampy and rocky habitats with little freshwater influence. Salinity near the shore varies between 30.5 ppt and 32 ppt during the rainy season and increases up to 32.5 ppt to 33.4 ppt during dry season. The deepest area (< 20 m) is in the transboundary water area near Phu Quoc Island (Koh Tral Island). This bay contains the main area of seagrass, which extends from Trapeang Ropov and Steung Kampot estuaries. The seagrasses Enhalus and Halodule grow on the sandy sea floor. They are the main habitat of dugong, which migrates to this area from November to January. These seagrasses are a main habitat of molluscs such as blood cockle, clam and cone shell, and the feeding ground for a number of resident and migratory fishes, squids, octopus and crustaceans.

In Kampot province, there are many areas where fish spawn. Koh Kataing Island is the main spawning ground for crabs and some species of fishes. Koh Tror Ngou is a spawning ground for some species of fishes and shrimps. Koh Thmey is a major spawning ground for shrimps, fishes, and crabs. Prek Tror Peng Ror Paov and Koh Ro Si Ta are also major spawning grounds for shrimps, crabs, molluscs, and some species of fish such as snappers. The Brek Ampil area contains habitats important to sea turtles, dugong, and molluscs. Chong Kos Prek Tnout is a key habitat area for shrimps, crabs, and some species of fish.

5. Enhancing the Information Base

The information presented above provides insight into broad areas considered important as spawning, nursery and feeding grounds for fish stocks. To assist in building the information base on areas significant to the life-cycles of fisheries resources, the seventh meeting of the UNEP/GEF South China Sea project’s Regional Working Group on Fisheries (RWG-F) considered during its seventh meeting a preliminary inventory of known spawning areas in the Gulf of Thailand for significant pelagic, demersal, and invertebrate species. To assist in developing a more comprehensive basis for the development of a list of critical spawning and nursery areas for important fish species, members of the RWG-F agreed to compile information during the inter-sessional period on: the UNEP/GEF South China Sea Project’s Habitat Demonstration Sites that are critical inshore nursery refugia for important demersal species, locations in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand that are utilised by important pelagic species for spawning, and existing fisheries management areas that may qualify as candidate sites of fisheries refugia. Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration (NFRDI) compiled this information for review by Cambodia’s National Fisheries Committee prior to its sharing at the regional level.

The subsequent and eighth meeting of the RWG-F considered document UNEP/GEF/SCS/RWG-F.8/5 “Information Collated by the Fisheries and Habitat Components of the South China Sea Project on Sites Important to the Life-Cycles of Significant Fish Species”. This document contained a review of all information collated by the fisheries and habitat components of the South China Sea Project on fish-habitat linkages. The sources of this information included: national reports on fisheries; national reports on coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, and wetlands; SCS habitat site characterisations; habitat demonstration site project documents; the South China Sea online meta-database; and information contributed directly by fisheries and habitat focal points. That meeting agreed that this information should be used to identify and characterise fish spawning and nursery areas in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. Members formed country-based sessional working groups to prepare country summaries of known critical spawning and nursery areas in their respective countries. These sessional working groups collated information regarding: approximate geographical location of the site; species known to utilise the site; known usage of the site (i.e. as spawning and/or nursery area; time of year that the site is utilised as a spawning or nursery area; and the information source. During the inter-sessional period, the Fisheries Administration undertook national consultations with fishing communities to refine this information.

The ninth meeting of the RWG-F reviewed discussion document UNEP/GEF/SCS/RWG-F.9/8, “Review of Information regarding known Spawning and Nursery Areas and the Establishment of Pilot Fisheries Refugia Sites in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand”, and update information for each known spawning and nursery area and add new sites to the list as appropriate. The revised list of known spawning and nursery areas for economically important fish species in Cambodia’s waters of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand, was considered by the national consultation workshop for the preparatory phase of the SOPAC/UNEP/GEF project “Establishment and Operation of a Regional System of Fisheries Refugia in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand”, and is presented below as Table 4. Building on this, during period 2009-2012, Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration has worked with stakeholders to identify areas critical to the life-cycle of individual species (see Table 5). Figures 3-9 present preliminary mapping of identified refugia sites listed in Table 5.

Table 4 . Known Critical Spawning and Nursery Areas for Significant Fish Species in Cambodia

Site Name	Geographic Location	Species Known to Utilise the Site	Known Usage of the Site		Information Sources
			Nursery	Spawning
Kampot Seagrass Area	10o27 – 10o36 103o54 – 104o17	Greasy grouper (Epinephelus tauvina )	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Threadfin bream (Nemipterus spp.)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Lizardfish (Saurida spp.)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Brownstripe red snapper (Lutjanus vitta)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Sixbar Grouper (Epinephelus sexfasciatus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Golden spotted spinefoot (Siganus guttatus)	●	●	Fisheries & habitat reports
		Whitespotted spinefoot (Siganus canaliculatus)	●	●	Fisheries & habitat reports
		Bluespot grey mullet (Valamugil seheli)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Humpback grouper (Cromileptes altivelis)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Long fin grouper (Epinephelus quoyanus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Orange spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Backtip grouper (Epinephelus faciatus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Lined silver grunt (Pomadasys hasta)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Wrasse (Halichoeres kallochroma )	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Harrowed Sole (Strabozebrians cancellatus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Streaked spinefoot (Siganus javus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Penaeus spp.	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
		Tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon)	●		Fisheries & habitat reports
Cambodian waters	Exact locations unknown	Yellowtail scad (Atule mate)		●	National Fisheries Report
		Yellowstripe scad (Selaroides leptolepis)		●	National Fisheries Report
		Torpedo scad (Megalaspis cordyla)		●	National Fisheries Report
		Japanese scad (Decapterus maruadsi)		●	National Fisheries Report
		Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commersoni)			National Fisheries Report
		Cavalla (Alectis kalla)		●	National Fisheries Report
		Trevally (Alectis indicus)		●	National Fisheries Report
		Doublespotted queenfish (Scomberoides lysan)		●	National Fisheries Report

Table 5 . Species specific refugia identified in Cambodia as of April 2014

Site No.	Site Name	Province	Area	Species	Status	Priority
1	Prek Tnaot	Kampot	1,332 ha	Endangered species	Demonstration site	***
2	Vinegar crab refugia	Preah Sihanouk	136 ha	Vinegar crab	Minor activities initiated in 2008	***
3	Blood cockle refugia	Preah Sihanouk	144 ha	Blood cockle	Minor activities initiated in 2009	***
4	Mud crab refugia	Kampot	26 ha	Mud crab	Minor activities initiated in 2009	***
5	Thmor Sor Fish offspring refugia	Koh Kong	263 ha	All species of fisheries resources	Minor activities initiated in 2009	***
6	Vinegar crab refugia	Koh Kong	736 ha	Vinegar crab	Minor activities initiated in 2010	**
7	Mud crab refugia	Kampot	9 ha	Mud crab	Minor activities initiated in 2010	**
8	Vinegar crab refugia	Preah Sihanouk	49,576 ha	Vinegar crab	Minor activities initiated in 2010	***
9	West Koh Kon	Preah Sihanouk	47 ha	Barracuda species	Proposed within MFMA	***
10	Poy Vil Vinh	Preah Sihanouk	13 ha	Bigeye trevelly	Proposed within MFMA	***
11	Av Bay Chhep	Preah Sihanouk	25 ha	Talang queenfish	Proposed within MFMA	***
12	Prek Kandal	Preah Sihanouk	23 ha	Mud crab	Proposed within MFMA	**
13	Prek Koh Toch	Preah Sihanouk	6 ha	Mud crab	Proposed within MFMA	**
14	Opposite to Koh Toch	Preah Sihanouk	27 ha	Torpedo scad	Proposed within MFMA	***