25 July

INSHORE fishermen have asked for an increase in vessel size limits up to 50 ft in length with under 120 horsepower engines to improve the performance of boats, during the recent coordination meeting.

Regarding inshore fishing vessels exceeding engine and boat size limits, a coordination meeting was held, which included Myeik District General administration Department, Myeik District Fisheries Department and local fishery workers, at Myeik District Fisheries Federation in Myeik Township, Taninthayi Region on 23 July.

At the meeting, Dr Htoo Nay Aung, Region Hluttaw representative, explained the matters he discussed at the Region Hluttaw.

Moreover, U Aung Kyaw Oo, administrator of Myeik District General Administration Department and U Hlwan Moe Zaw, Head of Myeik District Fisheries Department, discussed the concerns of the inshore fishermen.

Over 150 fishermen attended the meeting and raised their concerns to officials. The suggestions of the fishermen will be submitted to the Union Government through the Regional Government.

Under the Myanmar Marine Fisheries Law, the area 10 miles from the coast is defined as the inshore fishing area, and boats of 30 ft in length with 25 horsepower vessels are limited for inshore fishing.

The Fisheries Department has issued licenses to 3,819 inshore vessels and 5,146 fishermen, under the Myanmar Marine Fisheries Law.

There are 9,409 registered vessels and 2,261 unregistered vessels operating in Taninthayi Region.

There are four townships in Myeik District. The Fisheries Department has issued licenses to 3,819 vessels from three townships, including 831 vessels in Myeik Township, 543 vessels in Palaw Township and 2,445 vessels in Kyunsu Township.

During this no-fishing season, the Myeik Fisheries Department filed a lawsuit against the owners of nine illegal vessels and 33 fishermen under Section 44 of Myanmar Marine Fisheries Law.—Myint Oo (Myeik) (Translated by La Wonn)