Arakan News Agency
An Upper House lawmaker urged the Union government to prevent trawlers from Bangladesh from illegally fishing in Burmese waters and to provide security for local fishermen on Arakan State’s coast.
Lawmaker U Khin Maung Latt—representing Arakan State Constituency 3 asked in the Upper House—asked on Monday if the government had plans to revitalize small-scale fishing on the coast between state capital Sittwe and Maungdaw Township as illegal fishing in the area has crippled the livelihoods of locals for the last 20 years.
“Illegal Bangladeshi fishing trawlers have trespassed along 40 miles of the 60-mile Arakan,” U Khin Maung Latt told the Upper House. “There is usually over 20 people on board each trawler.”
U Khin Maung Latt said in Parliament he was worried that illegal fishing trawlers were working with local Muslim Rohingya fishermen, an allegation that could not be verified.
The Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr. Aung Thu replied that he would provide an answer together with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Arakan State government.
By making fishing illegal jeopardizes many Rohingya local’s livelihood.
