Fishermen in Kyeintali suffer from junta fishing ban

By Admin 23 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
23 July 2024, Gwa

Residents in Kyeintali Town, part of Arakan State’s Gwa Township, where there has been no fighting yet between the military and Arakkha Army (AA), are facing livelihood hardships due to junta bans on fishing and sea travel, according to local fishermen.

Through local ward and village administrators, the regime has barred residents from going out to sea and fishing, with no indication of when the ban might be lifted.

“There aren’t many other things for the locals to do to earn a living,” said a local fisherman. “As this area is close to the sea, the locals only make a living from fishing. Even when locals were allowed to fish in the past, they were struggling because it was not cost effective. When the regime imposes a fishing ban, what will they do for a living?”

Another fisherman said that due to the ban on fishing, the livelihoods of local people who work in the fishing industry are facing financial ruin as inflation adds to their woes.

“The regime didn’t explain to us why the fishing ban was imposed. We face livelihood hardships due to the skyrocketing commodity prices. The junta’s fishing ban made it more difficult,” the fisherman added.

The Kyeintalin area is situated along the Bay of Bengal in Gwa Township. In Thandwe Township bordering Gwa Township, there is fierce ongoing fighting between the military and AA.

Since renewed fighting broke out between the Myanmar military and AA on November 13, the regime has blocked off land and water routes to Arakan State, causing many in the local fishing industry to halt their operations.