Fishing blocks are being portioned from the sea, rivers, and creeks, as designated by successive regimes in order to collect toll taxes from the local fishing communities, the poorest and second largest population in western Burma's Arakan State.

One of the businessmen told Narinjara that the most pivotal and profitable blocks have been reserved for USDP members and close associates, despite competitive bidding for the blocks in the auction.

"Though the new government had called all businessmen across the state to participate in the auction, it has selected only the USDP's members and associates for the most pivotal and profitable fishing blocks amid competition in the auction," he said on condition of anonymity.

The state government has formed a five-member auctioneer committee and proffered the fishing blocks across Arakan State in a public auction that was held from 9 to 11 May, 2011, in the office of the fishery department in the capital Sittwe.

U Kyaw Thein from the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party and minister for the Ministry of Meat, Fish, Mines, and Energy, was appointed as the chairman of the committee, while U Myo Aung, director of the state fishery department, was appointed as secretary, U Mya Aung from the USDP and minister for the Ministry of Economics, U Ko Ko Naing from the USDP and minister for the Ministry of Chin National Race Affairs, and one other departmental officer were appointed as members.

The businessman said the committee has been biased by awarding blocks to USDP members and associates at lower prices, despite the auction's rules that the highest bidders are awarded contracts on the blocks. "The most contested block in the auction is Inndin Block in Maungdaw Township and 12 businessmen had bid for the block, but it has been awarded to U Than Khay at a price of 1.7 million Kyat. Others were offering 2 to 3 million Kyat for the block, but because he is a member of the USDP and former business partner of the Minister of Economics, U Mya Aung, he was awarded the block for the 2011 - 2012 fiscal year," he said.

Twelve fishing blocks are divided up from Taungbro, where the Naff River starts, to Inndin Village on the southernmost coast in Maungdaw Township.

According to the local fishermen, the Inndin Block is desired by businessmen because it is situated close to Rathidaung and Sittwe Townships, and is the the central market for selling fish to fishing boats from neighboring Bangladesh.

The Mayu River and its tributary creeks are divided up into six fishing blocks in Buthidaung Township and the blocks that yield the highest profit were awarded to U Maung Win Hlaing, secretary of the local USDP, and his associate U Aung Tin Shwe, at a price below other bids.

The fishing blocks in Sittwe, Pauktaw, Rathidaung, Mray Bon, and Kyaukpru have been awarded in a similar manner to businessmen who are members and associates of the USDP, report sources from the fishing communities in those areas. The system of bidding for fishing blocks was established by the Western Command in Arakan State in 2001, and there is no such system in other states or divisions in Burma.

The people of Arakan have been suffering from this system as it has restricted their access to fishing in nearby ponds, creeks, rivers, and the sea, without paying toll taxes. They must pay the taxes even if they are fishing for their own sustenance.

A fisherman in Sittwe said they had hoped the system would be abolished with the coming of the new government, but they are now worried that more toll taxes will be collected as the government has now added even more blocks in the area to be auctioned off.

Arakan State is divided into four districts - Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyaukpru, and Thandwe. The state government has created 120 fishing blocks that are auctioned off in Sittwe, Maungdaw, and Kyaukpru. In Thandwe the coastal waters have already been hired out to Chinese companies for fishing.