THE Region and State fisheries departments have stopped issuing fish and prawn catching licenses during the hatching season, according to the Fisheries Department.

“We have instructed the regional and state fisheries departments to be strict with local and overseas offshore fishing boats and entrepreneurs, in respect to observance of the rules and regulations prescribed by the Fisheries Department. Additionally, we have ordered them not to issue fish and prawn catching licenses during the hatching season. Entrepreneurs have requested that we reduce the no-fishing period. We’ve fixed a three-month period of no-fishing to prevent the loss of the fisheries’ resources,” said U Myint Zin Htoo, Deputy Director-General of the Fisheries Department.

“We will take legal action under the existing law against those who are engaged in exporting or catching fish and prawns during the no-fishing season. We have arranged temporary places for fishing vessels to dock during the time of bad weather. We will take legal action if we find them engaged in inshore fishing”, he said.

Previously, the department has reduced the no-fishing period for fishing vessels. But this year, the department will not reduce the ban for any offshore fishing vessels. The department set up a three-month no-fishing period beginning 12 April.— GNLM (Translated by Hay Mar)