Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative Creates Change at Kep Archipelago Hope Spot

Marine Conservation Cambodia were invited by the Cambodian government to make a permanent base on the island of Koh Ach Seh. From there they work around the clock, studying and protecting the surrounding marine life. In 2018 the area around the island was given official government protection as a Marine Fisheries Management Area. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

Through years of industrial fishing and bottom trawling in southern coastal Cambodia, the waters have been stripped of their beautiful coral reefs and seagrass meadows—both vital ecosystems that supported a diverse array of marine life, including fish, invertebrates, and sea turtles. This devastation has had a significant adverse effect on underwater wildlife. Many may not realise that seagrass meadows absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping mitigate climate change. The ravaged and barren underwater landscape cried out for help. However, hope is not lost. Thanks to the efforts of Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC), what was once a devastated ecosystem is now on a path to recovery.

Marine Conservation Cambodia run a programme along the coast helping local people to move into more sustainable oyster farming by deploying bamboo shellfish rafts. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

In collaboration with Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative and Mission Blue, MCC has deployed artificial reefs and restored more than 1,000 hectares of seagrass around the Kep Archipelago. These efforts help create habitats in breeding grounds and curb illegal fishing in protected areas. Rachana Thap, a former university student turned marine biologist and now the executive director of MCC and a Hope Spot Champion, has been instrumental in implementing solutions to restore the archipelago’s underwater habitats.

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LEFT: Rachana Thap is the Executive Director of Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) and a Mission Blue Hope Spot Champion. MCC was founded in response to industrial fishers who, through the use of weighted nets and bottom trawling, were wiping away huge swaths of seagrass and coral reef, completely destroying entire ecosystems. RIGHT: The health of the coral reef found around the Kep Archipelago was declining rapidly before Marine Conservation Cambodia was established there in 2013 to protect its diverse waters. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

The concrete structures have proven remarkably effective in attracting a diverse array of species, including Irrawaddy dolphins, green turtles, and even the dugong—a highly endangered marine mammal absent from Cambodian waters for many years now. Dugongs can range from two to three meters in length and weigh up to 400 kg, and they are completely herbivorous. Thap said that seeing a dugong that day “almost made me cry.” The sightings of dugong mothers and their calves in the archipelago’s waters are a testament to the success of their conservation efforts.

A seahorse in the shallow waters of the Kep Archipelago, clinging to a piece of seagrass on the sea floor. The tiny fish, named after the shape of their head, are typically found in sheltered, shallow waters. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

“Being recognised by Mission Blue was a really big moment,” Rachana admits. “It’s hugely encouraging for us to know that we’re not working alone, we have international backup.” Mission Blue, led by renowned oceanographer and Rolex Testimonee Dr. Sylvia Earle, aims to safeguard our oceans. By fostering public awareness and support, Mission Blue seeks to establish a global network of marine sanctuaries known as Hope Spots. Empowering local communities is also a key part of the MCC’s plan. “We work with the community because this is their home,” says Thap. By collaborating with local fishermen and those who rely on coastal resources, they teach them how move into more sustainable oyster farming by deploying bamboo shellfish rafts. They also hope to engage other coastal communities in this conservation effort. Local fishermen have even requested more artificial reefs to be deployed.

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LEFT: Marine Conservation Cambodia’s Island Manager Tanguy Freneat using a quadrat to survey the floor of the seagrass meadow in the Kep Archipelago. RIGHT: Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) Executive Director Rachana Thap is one of the first Cambodians to graduate with a degree in marine studies and was instrumental in developing MCC’s artificial reefs programme. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

With MCC’s efforts, they have recently been contracted by the Cambodian government to set up 5,000 artificial reefs along the Cambodian coast over the next five-and-a-half years. “It’s going to change the whole Cambodian coastal province,” she says, adding that the potential for restoration and the return of wildlife is enormous.

LEFT: The Marine Conservation Cambodia team carrying out a marine mammal survey in Preak Tnot waters, Kampot Province. RIGHT: Tanguy Freneat, Marine Conservation Cambodia’s Island Manager, taking notes of Hope Spot Champion Rachana Thap’s findings whilst she surveys the sea floor. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

Although Thap has been with MCC for seven years, she feels that her work is only just beginning: “For me, it’s not about five or ten years—it is a lifetime commitment.” Thap believes that the success of the Kep Archipelago’s marine revival is a testament to the power of human ingenuity, collaboration, and a deep-rooted commitment to protecting our planet’s natural wonders: “This is not just a national project, it’s a worldwide one.”

This story originally appeared on GRAZIA Malaysia.

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