MoALI is exerting efforts to develop the fishery sector crucial for the people’s socioeconomic life, food security and nutrition

Foreign tuna-class fishing vessels will be allowed to operate fishing pursuant to the rules and regulations in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Myanma Sea for the 2023-2024 financial year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. In the 2023-2024 financial year, effective inspections and necessary conditions will be schemed for allowing the fishing busi­ness to operate in Myanmar’s seas, and appropriate fishing licence tax rates will also be stipulated.

In addition, fishing vessels that will conduct fishing activ­ities in the exclusive economic zone outside the Myanma Sea and Myanmar territorial wa­ters will be required to install AIS systems paralleling with VMS systems. Fishing meth­ods and gear that do not harm the marine ecosystem must be used.

In addition to this, fishery entrepreneurs can only oper­ate in the long term only if they comply with the prescribed rules and regulations. The licence fee rates are set ac­cording to each financial year to earn foreign income from tuna fish caught in Myanmar waters and in the exclusive economic zone outside Myan­mar territorial waters.

The entry and exit of ves­sels will also be inspected at the relevant checkpoints for smooth and direct export of fish abroad. The ministry is working on the development of the fishery sector, which is important for the people’s so­cioeconomic life, food security and nutrition. — ASH/KZL