New Delhi (Mizzima) – Villagers in Bogale Township in Irrawaddy delta are in dire straits, even a year after Cyclone Nargis devastated their villages, because authorities and local fishing license holders have prohibited fishing in the area.
A villager, requesting that his name and village not be mentioned for fear of reprisal, said fishing license issued by authorities to a few rich people has created severe difficulties for the local population, as they are left with almost no alternative livelihood.
“We are not allowed to fish in the river or in the stream ever since they [local authorities] introduced the license system for fishing,” said the villager.
Normally, authorities hold an auction of fishing spots on the river banks and ponds in these areas and provide license to the bidders. While the bids are usually by rich people, they have been silent over poor locals fishing in their plots.
“But now, especially after Cyclone Nargis, they [license owners] have strictly prohibited locals from fishing. Those who trespass are to be fined,” the villager added.
This cuts off the lifeline of the local population, who are mainly dependent on daily fishing, he added.
At least 27 villages including Deemoeyin and Paunte villages are located in the southern Bogale Township, close to the Bay of Bengal. Besides farming, these villagers depend on fishing in the rivers.
After Cyclone Nargis, which lashed Burma’s Irrawaddy and Rangoon divisions last May, destroyed most properties and killed more than 50,000 people in Bogale Township, many are unable to get back to their fields and depended on fishing the local said.
“Last week, local authorities confiscated fish being carried by a villager in Bogale market as he had gone fishing without a license,” the villager said.
But the license holders, who have also been affected by the deadly cyclone, do allow local fisherman to fish in their plots if they are willing to pay them Kyat 1,500 [approximately USD 1.5] per day.
A relief worker, who frequently visits the area, said villagers are not at all keen on the bargain of buying the license for Kyat 1,500 because they stand to lose their money if they do not make a big catch for the day.
Besides restricting local fishermen from fishing in their plots, license holders and local authorities have also warned local fish merchants, who collect fish from locals and sell them, not to buy fish from the locals.
