Phnom Penh, 17 July 2024: The Prek Tnoat fishing community in Kampot province has recorded another sighting of a dugong, a rare and vulnerable marine animal.

According to Sar Surin, Director of the Kampot Provincial Fisheries Administration, the dugong was spotted on July 4 and 5 by the conservation team from Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC).

The presence of this vulnerable marine mammal reaffirms the safe havens and rich biodiversity in the fishing communities of the province. This is attributed to the joint conservation efforts of community members, local authorities, and partner organizations, particularly MCC.

These efforts have included cracking down on illegal fishing, conserving seaweeds and coral, and protecting and planting more mangroves. These measures have made the area a conducive environment for rare marine animals such as dugongs, sea turtles, seahorses, and dolphins to feed, take shelter, and reproduce.

The MCC conservation team reported that during the first half of 2024, dugongs were spotted five times in Kampot's fishing communities, feeding on seaweed grown in artificial boxes created by the communities.

Kampot province boasts nine fishing communities with eleven species of seaweeds across 8,435 hectares of seabed, 953 hectares of coral, 1,966 hectares of mangrove forests, and 13 conservation sites.