Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 29 October 2024

In Arakan's troubled waters, overseas companiespersist in collaborating with the military regime through joint ventures.

This ongoing partnership has significantlylimited local fishermen's activities for several months, causing majorhardships for the area's residents who depend on fishing for their livelihood.

"Large tankers come and go every few days.When they're here, we can't fish. Each time, it takes at least an hour or two.There's no fixed schedule for their movements, so we're struggling. For thenext couple of months, they'll also be doing waterway work, which will makethings even tougher for fishermen," explained a fishing industry workerfrom the Maday Island area.

From October 21 to December 31, the regime hasbanned local fishing, citing dredging work by the Trailing Suction HopperDredger, Reem Island, to help big oil tankers reach Maday Island's oil port.

"If they stop fishing for months, how willlocals survive? If these people can't fish for even one day, how will they feedtheir families? Officials must take this seriously. Right now, they're workingwith foreign companies without thinking about the local people," he added.

To avoid delays during dredging, the regime hasput out a notice banning fishing, setting up fishing gear, and the movement ofall boats within 500 meters of the work area and 250 meters of the shelter area.

A man from Myo Chaung sub-township told ArakanNews Agency that on October 23, regime troops on navy ships from the Taung MawGyi base took nets and fish from small boat fishermen near Kyaukphyu.

"When the navy saw the fishermen, theytold them never to fish here again. Then they took their nets and the twovisses (about 3kg) of fish they'd caught. The fishermen are risking their livesto catch fish on their own land. We don't know if we'll live or die under thisregime," he said.

Locals say fishermen who rely on fishing tolive are having a hard time making money because of the ban and arrests.

In Kyaukphyu, fishing is totally banned in theupper part of Maday Kyun, the start of the Thanzit River, and near theDhanyawadi navy base in the lower part of Maday Island.

POSCO International Myanmar E&P, partneringwith MOGE for oil exploration and drilling work, will inspect the ShweProject's subsea system using MV.PTSC Thai BINH. This operation will closevessel passage from November 22 to December 31.

The company's joint venture with themilitary-linked MOGE continues despite ongoing conflicts in Arakan, furtherimpacting local fishermen's livelihoods in the region.