Taninthayi Region Fisheries Department has warned onshore and offshore fishing boats to comply with the Vessel Monitoring System-VMS as the authorities is taking steps to fight against illegal fishing and to conserve fishing resource in the water territory of the country.

The officials of the department held a meeting with the owners of the fishing boats in Dawei yesterday and explained the rules for the VMS system installed at the fishing boats and legal action to be taken against those who violate the rules.

According the rules, fishing boats which are in the sea are obliged to contact the region’s VMS monitoring centre and to give their location to the authorities while fishing in the sea.

The rules have also banned removing and changing the VMS system on the boats.

Vessel monitoring systems (VMS) have been installed on a total of 1,414 offshore boats and 116 fish collecting vessels so far, while some vessels have been issued warnings regarding their installation.

The Taninthayi Vessel Monitoring System Control Centre is keeping a careful watch on offshore fishing vessels in Myanmar waters, according to the Fisheries Department.

The Taninthayi coast is situated in southern Myanmar and it is the longest coast in Myanmar, spanning 200 miles. More than 47,000 workers are engaged in offshore fishing on 1,530 vessels along the coast.

Dawei District IPRD (Translated by Kyaw Zin Lin)