Most fishing boats in Myeik archipelago are not obeying laws and fishery department needs to educate people widely in the area, said Dr Le Le Maw, Chief Minister for Taninthayi Region.

The Region Chief Minister arrived in Kyunsu Township on November 15 and met with locals, government officials and ward administrators.

“The locals are living on fishing industry and offshore fishing boats also went fishing near the shore. We held a meeting to solve the issue recently. So I want to say that people need to stay in line with the laws. If they don’t know about the laws, they can ask ward administrators. The respective fishery department also needs to educate people. When the officals gave educative talk, they have to choose the time to educate them. When I saw the photos, I only saw elderly people and children came to listen their talks. They cannot understand whenever we tried to explain them about the laws. The officials need to educate people who are working in the fishing industry,” said the chief minister.

Fishermen said the big fishing boats are catching fish in the sea near the shore illegally. Some fishing boat owners owned unofficial fishing boats and they copied many documents to catch fish illegally. They also caught fish with fishing nets not approved by the department.

“I saw fishing boats which have no documents. There are more than 500 fishing boats. The locals want to make official documents but the authorities didn’t issue necessary documents. We want to be safe under the protection of current existing laws. We felt pain as we are making a living illegally,” said Associate Secretary Htay Hlaing of Myeik District Cuttlefish Entrepreneurs Association.

Locals presented their difficulties to the chief minister and the chief minister instructed the fishery department officials to solve the issue in line with laws.