By Aye Yamone

TO control illegal fishing in Myanmar’s territorial waters, vessel monitoring systems (VMS) will be installed on all offshore fishing vessels before the start of the fishing season, said Dr. Khin Zaw, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.

He made the remarks at a seminar for sharing fisheries co-management experiences, which was held on 20 June at the Lotte Hotel in Yangon.

“We will install VMS on offshore fishing vessels to ensure fish are caught within the designated areas. VMS can also help us identify and check illegal fishing. There are many illegal fishing in the world. So, we want to install VMS systems,” said Dr. Khin Zaw.

Currently, international entrepreneurs and companies have been invited to submit tenders for installing VMS software at the Vessel Monitoring Control Center of the Fisheries Department.

The submission of application forms began on 14 June and will be allowed till 22 July. The department will announce the tender winner on 31 July.

By installing VMS systems, the Fisheries Department can keep tabs on the routes taken by fishing boats, the fish catching area, the rate of catching fish, and illegal fishing.

“Shipping companies, which want VMS systems installed, will be allowed to employ any company of their choice for installation. We will just focus on the information. The experts will know more details about the software. We have invited the tender, and so, we don’t know which country will submit it,” he added.

“With a 90-per cent reduction in the population of fish found closer to the surface and the number of fish found at greater depths declining by 40-50 per cent in our territorial waters compared to 30 years ago, we will have to push for sustainable use of fisheries resources by controlling illegal fishing,” said Dr. Khin Zaw.

“Now, we have declared a no-fishing season in June, July, and August. We will allow fishing from 1 September. So, the Ministry and the Fisheries Department are trying to get the VMS systems installed before the fishing season starts again,” he added.

“Although we planned to get VMS installed by taking a loan from a French company, we won’t apply for the loan, and instead, we will invite tenders,” said an official from the Fisheries Department.

“Once installation is complete, we will conduct training courses for watchmen. In addition, we will build control centers in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mawlamyine, Rakhine, Taninthayi, and Ayeyawady to monitor fishing vessels on which VMS has been installed,” he added.

Naval vessels and the maritime police will also work with the Fisheries Department to check illegal fishing. (Translated by Hay Mar)