Arakan State's fishing industry struggles amid junta blockades and security threats

By Admin 05 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

5 January 2026, Pauktaw

The Arakan Army controls 14 townships in Arakan State, and while efforts are underway to revive local businesses, many continue to face severe challenges due to Myanmar junta roadblocks and ongoing security concerns.

Agriculture and fishing remain the main economic activities in Arakan State, alongside livestock farming.

Locals engaged in fishing report that the industry has been largely inactive for over two years, citing Myanmar Navy patrols, rising fuel and equipment costs, and a downturn in the market. Many are abandoning fishing due to the high capital required and income disparities.

"With the lack of major trade, the fishing industry in Arakan State has declined. The scarcity of water resources has worsened, and the market is weak. In Pauktaw, fishermen have invested heavily but are not earning enough, so some have stopped fishing," said a fisherman in Pauktaw Township.

Pauktaw is a hub for marine fishing, aquaculture, and crab farming, with products previously exported to Sittwe.

On 22 December, 28 fishermen from Hsintetmaw Village, Pauktaw Township, were arrested by a Myanmar Navy warship near Pannanttha Island, prompting locals to avoid fishing.

Fishing is widely practiced in Sittwe, Pauktaw, Myebon, Kyaukphyu, Thandwe, Manaung, Rambre, and Gwa townships.

Before the latest fighting, fish and shrimp were exported domestically and abroad, but roadblocks have halted exports. Currently, only small amounts of fish are sold locally.

"The fishing industry is small now, and we can only fish for our own communities. With the Myanmar Navy present, large-scale fishing is impossible," a Thandwe resident said.

Fishermen in southern Arakan State report difficulties making a living as normal fishing operations are disrupted. Myanmar Navy warships continue patrolling Thandwe and Gwa coasts, arresting and attacking fishermen and putting their lives at risk.

"With the navy present, we can only fish near the shore. Inshore fishing costs less but yields just enough for survival," a Gwa Township fisherman said.

Illegal fishing by Bangladeshi nationals in Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships has further restricted local access to the sea.

In September 2025, a group of Bangladeshi fishermen reportedly killed two Arakan Coast Guard personnel near Koetankauk Village, Rathedaung, and seized their weapons.

Local fishermen warn that the situation continues to deteriorate, affecting livelihoods across the state. Subsistence farmers and livestock owners, including those in fisheries, face ongoing economic challenges.