Inland Fisheries Habitat Management of Myanmar

Abstract

Leasable fisheries operate in fisheries waters in which fishing rights are granted under a lease by Department of Fisheries (DoF) of Myanmar, subject to stipulations relating to the area, species, fishing implement, period, and fishing methods. There are 3729 leasable fisheries in Myanmar, most of which operate in inland waters. Recently, inland fisheries habitats had been gradually depleted due to siltation, extension of agriculture, as well as construction of roads, bridges and dams. In order to conserve the fisheries habitats and fish stocks, DoF has been conducting many activities in collaboration with leasable fisheries stakeholders. One of the leasable fisheries is Myaung leasable fisheries (Inn) situated at Bamaw Township in Kachin State of northern Myanmar. It is a demonstration site for other leasable fisheries and the leasable fisheries owner (lessee) emphasizes on maintaining the waterways that connect with the Ayeyawady River as well as removal of aquatic plants, such as water hyacinth and lotus from the waterways. The lessee has also been conducting culture-based capture system and capture-based culture system in his leasable fisheries area. A 12-acre pen had been built to rear indigenous species and commercially-cultured species. The fish outside the pen had been fed with rice bran and ground nut cake to grow. The local people depend on this fish for consumption in closed season (May, June, July) since this leasable fisheries has been practicing selected fishing and managed to maintain the fish production.