Conservation, Anti-Trawling, and Fish Aggregation Devices

Restoring habitat and combating IUU fishing practices in the Kep Archipelago
Prepared for the 2019 First Ocean Park International Conservation STEAM Competition by:
The Liger Marine Research Team (Rika Chan, Nilroth Ly, Sythong Run, Lux Sovann, Kimseng Suon, Thiny Tep, Venghour Than, and Soliday Yon) in collaboration with Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC)

KEP ARCHIPELAGO: SOLUTION: Conservation, Anti-Trawling, and Fish-Aggregation Devices

● One of the most extensive seagrass meadows in ● Restore ecosystem health through:
SE Asia (Marine Conservation Cambodia, 2017) ○ Durable structure to provide shelter for marine species
● Rich bivalve beds, fringing coral reefs, and ○ Made from low-cost, locally-sourced, and recycled materials
subsistence fishing grounds ○ Passive, effective intervention in IUU fishing practices
● Home to wide diversity of commercial fish and Figure 1. Healthy coral of Koh Seh island (MCC,
2018).
○ Spillover effect will increase biodiversity in Kep Archipelago
invertebrate species ○ Dual technology creates complex habitat for species at different depths
THREATS: ■ shelter for bottom-dwelling species
● Bottom-trawling and other illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing ■ substrate for key filter-feeding species (bivalves, barnacles, algae)
■ nursery for juveniles, habitat for sessile organisms, and food source for
methods destroy habitats and threaten ecosystem health
predators
● Bycatch from IUU fishing practices
● Ecosystem collapse and biodiversity decline threaten subsistence fisheries

Figure 2. Bivalve ecosystem of Kep in 2008 Figure 3. (Left) An illegal trawling vessel fishing in the Kep Archipelago. (Right) Example of bycatch Figure 4. Koh Seh Island, surrounded by Figure 5. Deployment of the artificial reef block and
(left) and 2018 (right) on a trawling vessel in Kep Archipelago (MCC 2017). fringing coral reef and seagrass beds (LLA, cluster from the boat (LLA, 2018).
2018).

CONCRETE BLOCKS – ARTIFICIAL REEF

● A structure made of twenty-one interlocking
DESIGN
1.25-meter and 150-kg concrete blocks Bamboo “cluster” (fish aggregation device)
● bamboo logs
● Blocks are built separately and assembled underwater ●
●
frayed rope found during beach cleans
recycled chains for weight
on the ocean floor
Figure 9. (Left) Underwater view and (right) surface-level view of bamboo “cluster,” a fish aggregation
● Can be built to different heights at various depths, thus device deployed along with the concrete blocks as fish habitat and demarcation of the survey site (LLA,
2018).
avoiding impacts on regular and legal navigation
● Designed to be easily movable and deployed BAMBOO “CLUSTER”
● System design intended to: (FISH AGGREGATION DEVICE)
○ provide habitat for marine life ● A structure made of six overlapping bamboo logs,
○ maximize surface area for colonization by 3 to 6 m in length and 80 to 120 mm in diameter
filter-feeders (adapted from Jean Chacornac)
○ interfere with trawling efforts by snagging and ● Lightweight ropes used to connect bamboo logs in
entangling bottom trawling boards and nets a triangle shape
● Frayed ropes (found during beach cleans) dangle
from each bamboo log 1-1.5m beneath the surface
to promote juvenile fish habitat
● Attached to artificial reef using rope
● System design intended to:
○ visibly demarcate MFMA for researchers and
Concrete block artificial reef
● concrete: Kampot Cement + fishing vessels
Figure 6. The anti-trawling device deployed in a Figure 7. 3D model of the anti-trawling device, in Figure 8. 3D model of the block and cluster design, showing gravel from Koh Seh
deserted and destructed area (MCC, 2018). which the concrete blocks are placed to create overall structure and various components (Nilroth Ly, 2019). ● bamboo for reinforcement ○ create vertical habitat for marine species
artificial reef habitat (MCC, 2018). ● rope

EVIDENCE: FUTURE PLANS:

● Significant difference in mean fish species abundance between pre- (M=1.3, ● Deploy and monitor three structures spaced 200m apart between 2018-2020
SD=12.05) and post-deployment (M=8.33, SD=12.05)(paired t-test; t(23)=2.86, ○ Increase overall biodiversity of Koh Seh region
p=0.009; Figure 11) ○ Create contiguous habitat between Koh Seh and Koh Angkrong
● Significant increase in mean fish species richness one ○ Line of anti-trawling barriers blocking passage through the MFMA
month post-deployment (1-way ANOVA; 10.53% increase ● Assess colonizing and aggregating effects of cluster
from 6 to 17 species; p=0.003; Figure 12) ● Create and implement different design (height and shape) and dimensions
● Common species: catfish, jack, rabbitfish, cardinalfish Figure 14. Map of
Figure 13. A group of
● Cluster promoted faster colonization by commercial sweetlips around the
our current
research site near
blocks of the Koh Seh (right
species, such as catfish and jacks Figure 10. Juvenile catfish aggregate beneath a anti-trawling device, dot) and Koh
concrete block of the artificial reef, indicating the providing habitat Angkrong which
● Presence of green-lip mussels on clusters site as a breeding and nursery ground for fish
populations (MCC, 2018).
while resisting the
effects of trawling
is where we are
planning to
● Found cut fishing net attached to block structure (MCC, 2018). connect to (left
dot). (Google
Maps, 2019)

POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION:
● Work with Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to identify key sites for
deployment outside the MFMA (ecotourism ventures, sustainable fisheries, etc.)
● Propose design to be implemented at heavily damaged sites internationally

Figure 11. Bar chart showing mean fish abundance of common species at the structure at baseline
(blue bars) and 1-month post-deployment (red bars). Error bars show standard error from the mean
at 95% CI.
Figure 12. Bar chart showing mean fish species richness at baseline (blue bar) and 1-month
post-deployment (red bar). Error bars show standard error from the mean at 95% CI.
REFERENCES:
1. Stage I zoning proposal for the Kep Archipelago Marine Fisheries Management Area (MCC June 2016)
2. Koh Seh Marine Environmental Assessment Kep Province, Cambodia (MCC January 2015)
3. Summary of Seahorse Population and Distribution, Report of Seahorse Demographics and Habitat: 2nd
Quarter Report 2014 (MCC June 2014)
4. “Are artificial reefs surrogates of natural habitats for corals and fish in Dubai, United Arab Emirates?” J.
Burt et al. Coral Reefs, February 2009.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
This research was funded by the Laguntza Foundation and Marine Conservation
Cambodia. Design for this structure was adapted from an original idea from MCC.
Thank you to Paul Ferber, Amick Haissoune, Jean Chacornac, and the members and
volunteers of Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) for SCUBA certification, reef
survey training, and research advice. Thank you also to Dominic Sharpe, Karen
Krieger, Kieran O’Neil, the Liger Leadership Academy, and the Liger Charitable Trust.
Finally, to Ocean Park Hong Kong for hosting this event.

Liger Marine Research Team (LMRT)

“High school youth researching, protecting, and restoring
marine life in the ecological jewel of Cambodia.”