Myanmar to consider renewing rights for foreign fishing boats

Myanmar is considering whether or not to renew rights for foreign fishing boats, and the decision will be announced soon, sources say.

Current rights for foreign fishing boats expire on March 31, 2014. A Thai fishing company has submitted a request to renew its fishing right to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development.

“The decision will be made with a vote on October 17. The president has also provided guidelines. We want officials from the fisheries department to attend this meeting. We need to discuss how to decide fishing rights and how to improve them,” said Deputy Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development Khin Maung Aye.

Researchers and local fishing businessmen are utterly opposed to fishing rights for foreign fishing boats and have asked the government not to renew them, as has Parliamentary speaker Thura Shwe Mann.

Critics say the fishing boats have not used the right techniques for fishing. They also argue that foreign fishing boats have entered illegally and breached fishing regulations by using mines and poison that can destroy natural resources.

During the 2013-14 financial year, about 60 fishing boats from two Thai companies have fishing rights in Myanmar sea territory.

source: Eleven Myanmar
http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/politics/3741-myanmar-to-consider-renewing-rights-for-foreign-fishing-boats