MRPO Marine Resource Protection Organisation

Marine conservation

Our work

MRPO's current programs and past collaborations, with our role and the latest documented activity for each.

Current work

3 records
Community raft and mangroves at Tumnob Rolok
ProjectCurrent

COMET Project

MRPO supports the Community-Based Mangrove Restoration and Ecotourism project with ThinkAqua and fishing communities in Prey Nob and Steung Hav.

Details

MRPO's role

Support community mangrove work and locally managed visitor activities through the COMET partnership.

Progress and field record

Community updates from Tumnob Rolok, Chong Ou and Keo Phos document mangrove nurseries, boat trips and visitor facilities, with photographs and films from each location.

People and places

Fishing communities in Prey Nob and Steung Hav, Preah Sihanouk province.

  • Community mangrove nurseries
  • Locally managed boat trips and visitor facilities
  • Community photographs, films and field updates

Partners: ThinkAqua and participating fishing communities

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ActivityCurrent

Ghost gear recovery

MRPO organises recovery campaigns with trained divers and coastal partners to remove abandoned fishing gear from marine habitats.

Details

MRPO's role

Bring trained divers, volunteers and coastal partners together for agreed recovery activities and document what is collected.

Progress and field record

For its 23 May 2026 campaign at Koh Rong, MRPO reported 470 kg of gear recovered and 50 participants, including 17 volunteer divers.

People and places

The documented May 2026 campaign took place at Koh Rong. Recovery work addresses abandoned gear that can harm marine life and fishing grounds.

  • Recovery by trained teams
  • Recording recovered gear and participation
  • Campaign photographs and reporting

Partners: Coastal partners and volunteer divers

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Fish above a coral reef, from MRPO's marine photograph archive
ResearchCurrent

Coral reef monitoring

MRPO is developing a coral reef monitoring plan with partners. Joint survey participation contributes field experience to this work.

Details

MRPO's role

Work with technical partners to develop a monitoring plan and contribute to collaborative reef surveys.

Progress and field record

Developing a monitoring plan is a priority in MRPO's 2026 work plan. MRPO was also named among partners in the 7-9 March 2026 coral spawning survey; that collaboration is listed separately under past work.

People and places

The March survey covered areas around Koh Rong, Song Saa and Koh Sdach. Locations for a continuing monitoring program depend on the agreed plan.

  • Monitoring plan development with partners
  • Collaborative reef observations
  • Agreement on methods and repeat observations

Partners: Research and conservation partners

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Past work

1 record
ResearchPast

Coral spawning survey collaboration

MRPO was named among the partners in a joint coral spawning survey around Koh Rong, Song Saa and Koh Sdach on 7-9 March 2026.

Details

MRPO's role

Participate in a joint survey alongside government and conservation partners.

Progress and field record

Agence Kampuchea Presse reported the collaboration on 16 March 2026. Teams used night dives to document spawning activity and reef conditions. Xinhua also covered the same survey.

People and places

Survey locations around Koh Rong, Song Saa and Koh Sdach in Cambodia.

  • Joint coral spawning observations
  • Reef condition and environmental observations
  • Public reporting of the survey

Partners: Cambodian ministries, Fauna & Flora, Song Saa Foundation, MRPO, and other partners

Related program

Where we work

Cambodia's southwest coast and islands

Published activities include community work in Prey Nob and Steung Hav, a recovery campaign at Koh Rong, and a joint coral survey around Koh Rong, Song Saa and Koh Sdach.

Current focus

Mangroves, reefs and lost fishing gear

Community nurseries, ghost gear recovery and reef survey collaboration form the focus of the records above.

Longer-term direction

The 2026-2030 plan

Our strategy sets out ambitions for marine protected area management, habitat restoration, sustainable financing and stronger research capacity. Partnerships will help turn these priorities into future projects.

Work with us

Work with MRPO on the coast

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