Why Understanding Marine Law Matters for Cambodia’s Coastal Communities

Cambodia’s coastline is a national treasure. It is beautiful, full of marine life, and vital to the people who rely on it daily. The coast runs for about 435 to 440 kilometers along the Gulf of Thailand, including Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, and Kep. Beyond the shore, Cambodia’s Exclusive Economic Zone covers about 55,600 square kilometers. These waters together support the livelihoods of millions of people.

For many coastal families, especially fishers, the sea is more than just a workplace. It is a way of life. But today, the ocean brings uncertainty and conflict. Many people are unsure about the rules:

• Who is allowed to fish?
• Where are fishing areas allowed or restricted?
• How is the sea protected, and by whom?

These rules are in place, but they are often written in complex legal language and scattered across many laws, sub-decrees, and government agencies. For local communities, these laws can seem distant, confusing, and hard to understand.

This blog series, Understanding the Cambodia Marine Legal Framework, aims to change that. In the coming weeks, we will explain marine and fisheries laws in simple, clear language. Our goal is to bridge the gap between laws made in Phnom Penh and the daily lives of people who work on the sea. When communities know their rights and responsibilities, they are better able to protect their livelihoods and the ocean.

Before we look at specific laws in future posts, this introduction lays the groundwork. It explains why marine laws matter, why they can seem out of reach, and why knowing the law is powerful. When coastal communities understand the law, they can speak up, protect their resources, and help care for Cambodia’s coast for future generations.

Part 1: The Lifeblood of the Nation – Cambodia’s Marine Ecosystems and Community Dependence

To understand why marine law is important, we must first understand what is at risk.

Cambodia is not often seen as a major maritime country. However, Cambodia may not be known as a major maritime country, but its coastal waters are rich, productive, and full of life. They hold some of the most important marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia. These ecosystems support Cambodia’s growing blue economy and offer a vital safety net for poor and rural communities, especially along the coast. ment includes three closely linked ecosystems. Each plays an important role in supporting marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Mangrove Forests

Cambodia has between 78,000 and 85,000 hectares of mangrove forests,​ particularly in the Peam Krasaop Wildlife Sanctuary in Koh Kong. These forests are very important.

Mangroves serve as nurseries for young fish, shrimp, and crabs, giving them safe places to grow. They also protect coastal villages by reducing storm damage and stopping coastal erosion. Mangrove roots trap mud and pollution, helping keep coastal waters clean and healthy for fishing and aquaculture.

Mangroves are not only good for the environment; they also benefit the economy. In Cambodia, they are estimated to provide about US$882 per hectare each year, totaling nearly US$69 million annually.

Seagrass Meadows

Seagrass beds cover about 33,800 hectares, mostly in the shallow coastal waters of Kampot and Kep. These underwater plants are often overlooked, but they are essential.

Seagrass areas provide shelter and feeding grounds for many fish and shrimp species that local people rely on for food. They also support small-scale fishing, such as collecting shells and other sea animals.

Seagrass meadows are important feeding areas for rare and endangered animals, such as the dugong and green sea turtles. These ecosystems are estimated to add over US$40 million per year to Cambodia’s economy.

Coral Reefs

Cambodia’s coral reefs cover about 2,800 hectares, mainly around its 69 offshore islands like Koh Rong and Koh Sdach. These reefs support many kinds of marine life.

Coral reefs are vital for fisheries, especially for valuable species like groupers and sea cucumbers. They are also becoming more important for ecotourism, creating new ways for coastal communities to earn income.

How Communities Depend on the Ocean

For millions of Cambodians, the ocean is more than just nature; it is their lifeline.

Marine and freshwater resources contribute about 16% to Cambodia’s national economy, valued at roughly US$2.4 billion, and support around 3.2 million jobs. Fisheries provide full-time, part-time, and seasonal work for people across the country.

Fish is also a key part of Cambodia’s diet, providing most of the animal protein people eat. For poor families, fishing is often the last safety net in difficult times.

Women play a major role in the marine economy. They fish, process, sell, buy, and prepare fish, but their work is often unseen and undervalued. Without healthy oceans and strong coastal ecosystems, Cambodia would face serious risks to food security, jobs, and cultural traditions. Protecting the sea is not just about conservation; it is about protecting people’s lives and futures.

Part 2: The Tangled Web – Why Marine Law Feels Complex and Distant

If the ocean is a shared heritage and vital for local survival, you might expect its laws to be easy for those who use it most. Sadly, that is not the case. For a small fisherman facing daily challenges at sea, Cambodia’s marine laws are complicated, layered, and can feel intimidating.

A Multi-Layered Legal Framework

Marine law in Cambodia is not found in one simple handbook. Instead, it is spread across a range of legal documents that most people rarely see:

The Constitution

At the top, the 1993 Constitution of Cambodia (Articles 52 and 53) states the state's duty to protect its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. It also mandates protecting the environment and the sustainable, balanced use of natural resources.

National Laws

The main legislative foundation is the 2006 Law on Fisheries (amended in 2017). This law establishes the framework for managing, protecting, and developing fisheries to ensure long-term environmental and socio-economic sustainability. It defines the "Marine Fishery Domain" as extending from the shoreline at the highest high tide to the outer limits of the EEZ, and further divides it into inshore (up to 20 meters deep) and offshore fishing zones. Other key laws include the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management (1996) and the Law on Protected Areas (2008).

Royal Decrees (Preah Reach Kret)

These are issued by the King. Notably, the 2005 Royal Decree on the Establishment of Community Fisheries gave all Cambodian citizens the right to voluntarily establish Community Fisheries (CFi) in their local areas to manage resources sustainably and improve their livelihoods.

Sub-Decrees (Anukret)

Issued by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, these specify how laws are implemented administratively. The 2007 Sub-Decree on Community Fisheries Management sets the rules for creating, managing, and dissolving CFis. It details the roles, duties, and rights of CFi members, such as the obligation to participate in conservation efforts and the right to fish in traditional ways.

Ministerial Proclamations (Prakas)

Issued by individual ministries, like the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF). For example, the 2007 Prakas on Guidelines for Community Fisheries offers step-by-step procedures for drafting CFi by-laws, internal rules, and area agreements. Other Prakas establish specific marine protected areas or fisheries refugia, such as Prakas No. 400, which protects mackerel in Koh Kong.
Voluntary Codes and International Agreements.

Adding to the complexity are guiding documents such as the Cambodian Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CamCode), which adapts global UN standards to the Cambodian context and promotes sustainable, gender-inclusive, and pro-poor practices. Internationally, Cambodia is a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which the National Assembly recently ratified to align the country with international maritime standards.

The Institutional Maze

Adding to the confusion about the law is uncertainty over who enforces it. Marine governance in Cambodia is shared, and sometimes disputed, by different institutions. The Fisheries Administration (FiA) under MAFF manages fishing activities and Community Fisheries. The Ministry of Environment (MoE) oversees marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and coastal zoning. Sub-national authorities, provincial governors, maritime police, and the Royal Cambodian Navy also have roles in enforcement and security.

For local communities, figuring out which government agency to contact when an illegal trawler enters their fishing waters or when a coastal developer clears a mangrove forest can be overwhelming. This confusion creates loopholes that bad actors can easily take advantage of.

Part 3: The Chasm – The Gap Between Written Law and Lived Reality

The laws written in Phnom Penh depict a vision of a progressive, sustainable, and community-empowered marine sector. In the early 2000s, and culminating in 2012, Cambodia experienced significant "deep" fisheries reforms. The government canceled commercial fishing lots, transferring large areas of inland and coastal waters to public use and community co-management. The legal framework guarantees that local fishers have the right to co-manage their resources, exclude outsiders, and protect their livelihoods.

However, there is a big gap between the written law and the reality on the water. Fishers often see the law not as protection, but as an ideal that is not enforced or as a burden that is not applied fairly.

1. The Scourge of Destructive and Illegal Fishing

Despite being explicitly outlawed by the 2006 Law on Fisheries and related regulations, destructive fishing practices remain widespread. Commercial bottom trawling is illegal in shallow coastal waters less than 20 meters deep, yet it remains the biggest threat to Cambodia’s benthic habitats, damaging seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and bivalve beds. Methods like push-netting, dynamite use, electrofishing, and fine-mesh nets are common. When heavily funded illegal commercial vessels enter shallow waters, it becomes impossible for small-scale fishers using traditional gear to compete.

2. Socioeconomic Pressures Outweighing Legal Deterrents

The law cannot feed a hungry family. Many coastal residents rely on fishing for daily survival in very tough economic conditions. Poverty, few other job options, and high debt often force desperate fishers to use illegal, short-term methods just to get by. Because illegal fishing is often more profitable than the risk of being caught, due to weak enforcement, the cycle of resource loss continues.

3. The Enforcement and Capacity Deficit

The law gives Community Fisheries (CFIs) the duty to protect their areas, but rarely gives them the power or resources to do it well or safely. The 2007 Sub-decree lets CFIs patrol their waters, but they do not have the legal authority to arrest armed, illegal commercial fishers. They must rely on the Fisheries Administration or police, who often lack the fuel, boats, or motivation to respond quickly. Many CFIs also lack the money to maintain boundary markers or do regular patrols, so they depend on uncertain NGO funding.

4. Coastal Development and Habitat Loss

While fisheries law tries to regulate fish harvesting, other sectors are destroying the habitats fish need to survive. Rapid coastal development, land reclamation for resorts, urbanization, and widespread sand mining are damaging the coastline. Intensive shrimp farming has led to the clearing of vital mangrove forests, resulting in acid sulfate soil problems and serious economic losses. The law promises ecological protection, but in practice, economic concessions and development projects often bypass or override environmental impact regulations.

5. The Existential Threat of Climate Change

Climate change makes all these problems worse. The Gulf of Thailand is very vulnerable. Sea levels are rising quickly, by 3 to 19 mm each year, causing coastal erosion, storm surges, and saltwater entering freshwater systems. Ocean warming, which could rise by up to 2°C by mid-century, has already caused repeated coral bleaching and seagrass loss, hurting the fisheries that depend on them. The legal framework was mostly made for a stable climate, and local communities are finding it hard to adapt their traditional knowledge and rights to these fast changes.

Part 4: Bridging the Divide – What Readers Will Gain From This Series

The problems are big, but they can be solved. The first step to restoring Cambodia's oceans and protecting coastal communities’ rights is legal literacy. You cannot defend a right you do not know you have, and you cannot hold an institution accountable if you do not understand its legal role.

That is why this blog series exists. In the next posts, we will break down legal jargon and turn the Cambodia Marine Legal Framework into a simple, empowering guide.

By following this series, readers will gain a thorough understanding of the following areas:

• The Basics of Marine Governance (Chapter 2): We will explore what "governance" really means beyond written rules, examining how power, institutions, public interest, and community stewardship interact in practice.
• The Legal Structure (Chapter 3): We will clarify the hierarchy of Cambodian law—from the Constitution to Sub-decrees and Prakas—showing how they work together to manage the coast.
• Fisheries Law and Coastal Rights (Chapter 4): We will explain the 2006 Law on Fisheries, including differences between small-, medium-, and large-scale fishing, licensing rules, gear restrictions, and how formal laws connect with traditional practices.
• Environmental Protection and Conservation (Chapter 5): We will review laws protecting mangroves, coral reefs, and endangered marine species, honestly considering the trade-offs between coastal growth and marine conservation.
• Who Governs the Sea? (Chapter 6) We will outline the government ministries, departments, and agencies responsible for the ocean, clarify their roles, and explain why coordination among them is often challenging.

The Power of Community Fisheries (Chapter 7): We will examine in depth the rights, roles, and limits of CFis and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). We will look at the co-management approach and how communities can define and enforce their boundaries and rules.

Participation, Accountability, and the Future (Chapters 8-10): We will share stories and case studies to highlight the experiences of coastal fishers, analyze mechanisms for public participation, and explore how communities can prepare for future challenges, such as climate change.

Part 5: Call to Action – Join the Learning Journey

We invite you, whether you are a local community fisher, a civil society practitioner, an NGO worker, a student, or a policymaker, to join us on this learning journey. The goal of this series is to turn the rigid language of the law into real-life understanding, building grassroots legal literacy that helps communities become active, informed stewards of their coasts.

When communities understand the law, they can negotiate from a position of strength. They can use the Cambodian Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries to demand transparent decision-making. They can use the Sub-decree on Community Fisheries to support their local patrols. They can also advocate for the protection of their mangroves and coral reefs, not just as a moral issue, but as a legal right.

Please subscribe to the blog, share these posts with your networks, and use them as discussion topics in your community meetings, workshops, and roundtables. Together, we can close the gap between the law on paper and life on the water.

Disclaimer: This series is designed purely as a community learning journey for educational, capacity-building, and awareness purposes. It is intended to build general legal literacy regarding Cambodia’s marine governance framework. It does not constitute formal legal advice, nor should it be used as a substitute for professional legal counsel in any disputes, enforcement actions, or judicial proceedings.