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Cambodia’s First Marine Litter Workshop and Coastal Clean-Up Campaign Sihanoukville, Cambodia
15-16 September 2008
and was presided by Dr. Mok Mareth
Senior Minister, Minister of Environment, Cambodia
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A national survey on marine litter was undertaken by the Ministry of Environment in Cambodia in 2006, as part of the regional review on marine litter that was initiated by COBSEA. The survey to assess the problem of marine litter in Cambodia and the current status of marine litter management showed that little research had been undertaken in Cambodia regarding the state of the problem and that there was very limited understanding and awareness about the marine litter problem at all levels in Cambodia. It also showed that marine litter is a national concern, as part of the general solid waste management problem, and that the impacts of solid waste along the coastline had negative impacts on fishing villages and communities. |
The Ministry of Environment requested support from the COBSEA Secretariat to organize a marine litter workshop and coastal clean up campaign in Cambodia with the aim to raise awareness among the general public on marine litter issues and to promote cooperation on marine litter management among the different stakeholders.
Sihanoukville with its potential as a recreational area with its rich biological diversity was selected as the study site. It also plays an important role to support economic development both in the country and region as navigation is provided through the sea-port of Sihanoukville and is the largest seaport that supports the industrial development for the country. |
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With the rapid development and high population growth, marine litter has become one of the serious environmental problems in Sihanoukville, with items of marine litter being mainly cigarettes/cigarette filters, beverage bottles, cans, plastic bags, etc. The root causes being the lack of awareness among the general public, lack of funds to support this activity and deficiencies in implementation and enforcement of existing regulations at local and national levels.
At the beginning of January 2008, a national meeting was organized to present the concept of marine litter initiative to organize a national marine litter workshop and Cambodia’s first coastal clean up campaign in Sihanoukville. An inception workshop was organized in Sihanoukville in mid-February 2008 in collaboration with the local authority. Next, a questionnaire was developed with the involvement of key people who have best experiences working in the coastal zone. The aim of the questionnaire was to conduct a survey on the perception of marine litter from local people who live along coastal areas and other enterprise, factories and industries located in coastal zone. Then a marine litter workshop and a coastal clean up campaign was organized in Sihanoukville on 15-16 September, 2008. It was officiated by H.E. Dr Mok Mareth, Senior Minister, Minister of Environment, Cambodia and participated by about 70 participants from the various government and other organisations.
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