THE Department of Fisheries has mandated that offshore fishing vessels and fish carrier boats must be equipped with a vessel monitoring system (VMS). Failure to comply with this requirement or follow installation instructions will result in the confiscation of both vessels and business licences.

To protect fishing vessels and fish carriers from natural disasters, curb illegal fishing and trading, and preserve fish resources, monitoring is conducted by the Myanmar Navy and Maritime Police Force from control points in Myeik, Yangon, Ayeyawady, Rakhine, and Nay Pyi Taw.

As per the Department of Fisheries, Myanmar has more than 3,000 fishing trawlers and fish carrier boats equipped with the VMS system.

Strict actions will be taken against fishing vessels and carriers found fishing in prohibited areas. However, access to islands at sea is permitted for specific activities such as visiting clinics for crew health, obtaining freshwater, and other supporting tasks.

Violations of the rules will result in a two-month business suspension and a fine of K20,000 for the first offence. Subsequent violations incur double the initial penalty, and repeated violations may lead to the complete revocation of the license.

— TWA/CT

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