Kampot: Dugongs, one of the world's rare and vulnerable marine animals, have been recorded once again in the Kep Archipelago.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, in a news release issued by the Marine Conservation of Cambodia (MCC) on Sept. 2, a new dugong feeding trail was recorded during diving surveys in the Halophila sp. area, one of their preferred seagrass species. Later, the team had the incredible privilege to observe them from the sky with a drone.
Their return is the result of joint conservation efforts by MCC and the Fisheries Administration, along with the recovery of seagrass meadows, essential for their survival. However, the source noted that some fishing methods that negatively impact marine biodiversity can still be observed in the area, posing a serious threat to these marine mammals and their habitat.
The MCC emphasized that while many efforts have been made, continued attention is necessary to address these threats and ensure a safe environment for dugongs in the Cambodian sea.
Kampot province is home to nine fishing communities and rich marine biodiversity, including eleven species of seaweed across 8,435 hectares of seabed, 953 hectares of coral reefs, 1,966 hectares of mangrove forests, and 13 designated conservation sites.