Licences to be issued for offshore fishing vessels
16 Sep 2020 - Source: Global News Light of Myanmar - Starting from 2020-2021 financial year's fishing season, the Fisheries Department has been issuing the licences in time to the offshore fishing vessels so that the latter can leave for the sea, according to the Fisheries Department.
The staff from the Fisheries Department in Rakhine State, Taninthayi Region, Ayeyawady Region, Yangon Region and the Mon State are issuing the licences to the fishing vessels during the regular office hours.
At present, the department is enjoying great benefit after setting 100 per cent no fishing season or imposing the no-fishing area restriction upon the fishing vessels in 2018 and 2019.
"To enable the offshore fishing vessels to leave for the sea, the department is issuing the licence to the fishing vessels promptly. When they reach the sea, they are allowed to get the license by giving the copy," said an official from the department.
At present, the department is issuing the vessel licence. On the other hand, the department is also assisting those vessel owners who wish to prepare for getting the permit for their offshore vessels, to change the vessel name, to change the vessel owner's name and to do renewal by helping fill the application forms.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has installed the surveillance system onboard the fishing vessels to be able to take legal action against the ships which are catching the fish illegally.
There are many offshore and inshore fishing enterprises in Yangon and Taninthayi Regions and Mon State. Currently, there are over 3,400 offshore fishing vessels in Myanmar. The department took legal action against 35 illegal fishing vessels, 68 undisciplined offshore vessels and two fishing vessels that had caught the fish with the use of the prohibited fishing equipment. —Zin Yaw Aye (Translated by Hay Mar)
