Cambodia’s rice field fisheries provide a critical source of food and livelihoods, and habitat for more than 150 fish and aquatic animal species. Rice fields thus support both human health and native biodiversity. We propose here a research project that aims to better understand the function of rice field fisheries, how people use them, and the unique Community Fish Refuge (CFRs) strategy designed to improve conservation and fish production. In partnership with WorldFish Cambodia, we will assess the benefits of CFRs, or community-managed protected areas within the rice field landscape, for household nutrition and income. We will engage closely with local community resource managers and policy-makers to share and discuss results, and we will engage Cambodian students throughout this project.