Seagrass meadow and green turtle in Cambodia

Abstract

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) have been reported as an abundant species among five species of sea turtles in Cambodia's sea. Green turtle have been known as plant eaters. Mainly a few species of seagrass In Cambodia, four large seagrass meadows have been selected as demonstration sites in two provinces and one municipality. KKSG1 and KKSG2 were selected in Koh Kong province, KAMPSG1 in Kampot Province, and KEPSG1 in Kep Municipality. So far, there is no confident information that have been mentioned about seagrass species and specific seagrass species which are the most favored species for green turtle even some survey had been conducted. Becase the process of the survey did not continue, feeding ground zoning for sea turtles have not been set up yet. To address this issue, survey on seagrass species conducted in 2002 in KAMPSG1 and KEPSG1 by using three methods are 1. to interview with local people who are living around seagrass area, 2. seagrass net, and 3. mapping seagrass areas, in order to find out seagrass species and feeding ground for green turtle. As a result, eight species of seagrass found in the area, in which two of them are dominated species, are Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii. Whereas from interview indicated that green turtle mostly found in Kep municipality and Kampot province, particularly in areas that is reach of T. hemprichii. Although, there is no quantities information on feeding ground and specific seagrass species for green turtle are strongly aware yet. However, future plan has been made to conduct more survey in other zones in order to get fully satisfied information on favored seagrass species and their location for green turtle. It is expected that, clear result from the future activities will be useful to set up feeding ground for sea turtle, particularly green turtle. Therefore, many activities need to be done in the coming future for the sack of protecting and conserving sea turtle population as well as their feeding ground in Cambodia Water and also in the Southeast Asia. But fund for activities is seeking from concerned agencies and NGOs.