Sea turtle conservation in Cambodia

Protecting sea turtles means reducing fishing-related threats, safeguarding coastal habitats and improving how turtle encounters are handled and recorded. Community knowledge is central to that work.

Hawksbill sea turtle caught among green netting and tangled fishing line on sand. — Hawksbill turtle entangled in fishing gearPhoto supplied by a community member

Conservation priorities

Reduce capture and entanglement

Accidental capture in fishing gear is a major concern. Working with fishers to understand bycatch, alongside efforts to address abandoned gear, helps target practical responses.

Protect nesting and feeding habitats

Conservation needs to consider nesting beaches and the coastal habitats turtles use at sea. Local knowledge and habitat surveys can help identify areas needing protection.

Build evidence with communities

Reliable records of sightings, nesting and fishing interactions help reveal changes over time. Cooperation among communities, authorities and researchers supports more informed conservation decisions.

Further detail: Cambodia’s Sea Turtle Action Plan 2016–2026 (PDF) and the research below.

Safe handling, release and reporting

Community-provided photographs highlight the need for practical guidance when turtles are encountered or accidentally caught. Training priorities include safe handling and disentanglement, recognising when specialist help is needed, and assessing turtles before release.

Recording the date, location, species, fishing gear involved and outcome of each encounter can support reporting to the relevant authorities and long-term monitoring.

Further reading: Sea turtle handling and release guidance — Olive Ridley Project.

A community member holds the rear edge of a hawksbill turtle’s shell on a beach. — Hawksbill turtle photographed on shorePhoto supplied by a community member

MRPO’s related field work

Koh Rong · May 2026

Ghost-gear recovery

MRPO worked with coastal partners and volunteers on a ghost-gear recovery campaign. This work addresses abandoned fishing gear, a source of entanglement and habitat damage in the marine environment.

Explore the campaign

Cambodian islands · March 2026

Reef surveys with partners

MRPO participated in joint surveys documenting coral spawning and reef conditions. Understanding these habitats contributes to the wider marine conservation work on which protection of coastal wildlife depends.

Explore the joint survey

Published expertise

All publications

These publications include contributions by people now serving on MRPO’s team, board and advisory group, through their work with other organisations.

2024 · SWOT Report, volume 19

Sea Turtles of Southeast Asia

A regional overview of sea turtle populations, threats and conservation efforts, including Cambodia. It connects nesting and bycatch information with the practical challenges of protecting turtles across national boundaries.

Team contributors: Chea Phallin · Matt Glue

2023 · Oryx

An assessment of marine turtle population status and conservation in Cambodia

A synthesis of surveys and conservation records assesses Cambodia’s remaining marine turtles and identifies priorities for reducing bycatch, protecting nesting habitat and strengthening regional cooperation.

Team contributors: Marianne Teoh

2018 · Oryx

An action plan for marine turtle conservation in the Kingdom of Cambodia

This conservation news article introduces Cambodia’s marine turtle action plan and the partnerships intended to coordinate protection, research and management of these threatened marine species.