Marine habitats / Cambodia

Coral reef monitoring

In the field with partners.
Building knowledge of our reefs.

MRPO contributed to the March 2026 coral spawning survey alongside government and conservation partners.

Divers photographing and recording reef observations at night. Photo: Kimlong Meng, via AKP. — Night survey · © Kimlong Meng · Published by AKP

Field record / 7–9 March 2026

A milestone for Cambodia’s reefs

The joint survey recorded spawning for the third time in the Koh Rong archipelago and for the first time in the Koh Sdach archipelago. AKP named MRPO among the collaborators.

Survey dates: 7–9 March 2026
Preah Sihanouk province: Koh Rong & Song Saa
Koh Kong province: Koh Sdach archipelago

What the team documented

Night dives combined spawning observations, reef-health assessments and environmental records to inform research on coral reproduction and long-term conservation.

Read the survey coverage

From the survey

A reef coming to life

Photographs published with AKP’s report. Select an image for a larger view.

Particles rising above a branching coral colony illuminated at night. Photo: Anna Sabrina Petry, via AKP. — **Coral spawning at night**© Anna Sabrina Petry · via AKP

Close-up of coral with pink bundles visible across its surface. Photo: Morokot Long, via AKP. — **A closer view of the coral**© Morokot Long · via AKP

Coral polyps with rounded pink bundles among their tentacles. Photo: Morokot Long, via AKP. — **Detail at the colony surface**© Morokot Long · via AKP

Building on field experience

From a survey to continued monitoring

MRPO’s 2026 work plan includes developing a coral reef monitoring plan with partners. Joint fieldwork is a practical foundation for that next stage.

A photograph records a moment. Repeat observations at known locations, using agreed methods, can build a clearer picture of reef condition over time.

Our next step is to develop that approach with technical and conservation partners: agreeing survey methods, locations and follow-up so that records can be compared and used in management decisions.

Explore our work plan Discuss a monitoring partnership

Collaboration & coverage

Working together for reef conservation

The announcement brought together the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, Fauna & Flora–Cambodia Programme, MRPO and Song Saa Foundation. Bubbles Up Dive Centre and Khmer Dive Group also supported the survey.

Agence Kampuchea Presse · 16 March 2026