Project description
Kep province is located in southeast of the country, at 173km from the capital city, Phnom Penh. The province is administratively divided into 1 city and 1 district, and 5 communes. Kep province extends over 375.02km2 land area, with population 37,951, women 19,630 (data for 2012).
Kep CFi is located in Kep village, Kep commune, Kep city, Kep province. The CFi area extends over hundred hectares of seagrass bed, and 11 ha mangroves including the fisheries resources that play important role in supporting community livelihood.
The coastal fisheries resource protection and conservation to improve local livelihood was proposed to manage and conserve coastal resources and improve community livelihood to respond particularly to the government?s fisheries reform policy to promote community participation in sustainable coastal resource management. The project will promote and expand selected and appropriate livelihood options to improve local livelihood and reduce pressure on coastal fisheries resources.
The action plan proposed for the project corresponds to existing CFi area management endorsed by the FiA. The plan has also received endorsement by local authorities as it responds to the strategic plan for seagrass conservation by the recently concluded UNEP/GEF project, Reversing Environmental Degradation in South China Seas and in the Gulf of Thailand (UNEP/GEF-SCS). The plan also assists in achieving 10 years strategic planning framework for the fisheries sector to protect and conserve seagrasses for which targets for protection and conservation of 5,000 ha is to achieve in the next 5 years.
Project objective
Protect and manage coastal fisheries resources including seagrass and mangrove forests, replant mangrove trees and restore fish resources for sustainable use and to contribute to local livelihood improvement.
Objective 1: Fish stock in the target area is improved through the establishment and creation of seagrass and mangrove protection areas, and replanting of mangrove.
Objective 2: Community actively participated in protection and conservation of fisheries resources and minimised pressure from use of fisheries resources through establishment of ecotourism and provision of alternative livelihood.
Expected outputs
1.1.1 The CFi covering 279 ha is sustainably managed, existing 11 ha mangrove forest protected and 3 ha degraded land within the CFi are planted and rehabilitated with mangrove;
1.1.2 Three hectares mangroves area planted with 4,000 mangrove saplings;
1.1.3 100 ha seagrass conservation area is designated for conservation;

2.1.1 200 CFi members and relevant stakeholders are aware of the importance of fisheries resources and related legal documents through awareness activities;
2.2.1 30 participating HHs adopted alternative livelihood through implementation of technologies received from training including integrated farming and saving scheme;
2.3.1 An ecotourism sub-committee established consisting of 11 members in total, 5 women, and each member is assigned with different tasks;
2.3.2 An ecotourism sub-committee and CFi members received additional knowledge on community based ecotourism management.
Activities
1.1.1.1 Consultative meeting to establish community procurement committee;
1.1.1.2 Building community patrol outposts;
1.1.1.3 Purchase an outboard motorised patrol boat;
1.1.1.4 Monthly patrol for seagrasses and other resources designated for protection;
1.1.3.1 Consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders to define location and extent of seagrass bed to be protected;
1.1.3.2 Defining locations for placement of boundary markers, and cement rings through GPS data points and draft mapping;
1.1.3.3 Boundary demarcation and placement of cement rings to protect seagrass with the participation of relevant stakeholders.
1.1.3.4 Awareness raising among fishers on seagrass to fishers through different media such as newspaper, radio, etc.

2.1.1.1 Raising awareness on the benefits of mangroves, seagrass and coral reef;
2.1.1.2 Consultation meeting to design and produce billboards and brochures to raise public awareness to community and relevant stakeholders;
2.1.1.3 Study tour to learn from lessons with management by other communities in Kampot/Koh Kong;
2.2.1.1 Training on appropriate agricultural techniques for 30 CFi members and fishers;
2.3.1.1 Election of sub-committee;
2.3.1.2 Development of by-law and internal rule for ecotourism management;
2.3.1.3 Discussion and approval of internal rules for ecotourism management;
2.3.2.1 Training on reception and community based ecotourism;
2.3.2.2 Training on design and production of souvenirs; and
2.3.2.2 Organisation for an operation of nature based tourism though 7 meetings to develop task based working groups.