Tanintharyi fishermen request extension of fishing season until end of April for livelihood stability
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Hsu/Pearl (NP News) - March 13
A representative from the Myanmar Fisheries Federation told The Statesman that fishermen in Tanintharyi Region have submitted a request to authorities to allow fishing until the end of April, in order to ease their socio-economic hardships.
In Myanmar’s maritime zones, the closed season (fish spawning period) is usually set from May to the end of July, or sometimes from April to the end of June. This means that by the end of March, fishing activities must stop for about three months.
The official explained, “According to conservation law, fishermen must take a three-month break each year. In practice, the season ends at the end of March. When March ends, fishing stops for three months so there won’t be any export.”
Currently, there are around 30,000 fishermen in Tanintharyi Region. Since they face livelihood difficulties when fishing boats are forced to stop, they have requested permission to continue fishing until the end of April. The Fisheries Federation has submitted this request to the relevant departments.
The official added, “In Tanintharyi, there are about 30,000 fishermen. When the boats stop, most return home, leaving only a few guards on the vessels. Sometimes, due to operational difficulties, they are only asked to stop for two months. The fishermen want to keep their income stable. When the boats stop, they have no earnings, so they made the request. And we submitted it on their behalf.”
It is also noted that some fishing equipment cannot be used during the rainy season and are only suitable in summer. This is another reason fishermen are asking for permission to fish until the end of April.
“They requested for just one more month — April. We submitted the request. Whether it will be approved or not, we don’t know yet. We have submitted the request for Yangon and Tanintharyi Regions. Normally, the season ends in March. Some fishing gears can only be used in summer, but not in June, July, or August. So even if permission is granted during the rainy season, they can’t operate.”
In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, Myanmar earned over USD 700 million from seafood exports and Tanintharyi Region alone exported more than 285,000 tonnes, generating USD 303.628 million. –