Border News Agency
Pauktaw, April 30

Fishermen say that they are facing difficulties in catching fish in Arakan because the junta navy has been arresting and detaining fishing trawlers, as well as extorting money and issuing threats.

In the townships of Sittwe, Pauktaw, and Kyaukphru, local fishermen report that the junta navy has been intercepting and detaining them.

“They came and arrested us with speed boats from the Navy. It’s become impossible to go out fishing; we can only fish near the shore. But there are no fish near the shore,” said a fisherman from Pauktaw Township.

Fishermen say the junta navy has stationed itself off the coast of Sittwe, in Pauktaw Township, and at the mouth of the Kaladan River near Sittwe, and is arresting fishing trawlers that go out to sea.

“They confiscated the boat, charged us under various laws, and sentenced us to prison. About five boats have already been seized,” said a fishing trawler owner from Pauktaw Township.

Additionally, in Kyaukphru Township, which is still under junta control, residents say the military is not even allowing locals to go out fishing in the rivers.

In Arakan State, where many people rely heavily on fishing for their livelihoods, such restrictions have started to severely impact their income and daily survival, they say.

“We’re not allowed to fish at all. Fish prices are rising for consumers, and those who rely on fish for food are also struggling,” said a local from Kyaukphru.

In addition to being barred from fishing due to military restrictions, people in the fisheries sector are also being affected by the blockade of trade routes connecting to mainland Myanmar.

As a result, it has become difficult to export Arakan State’s major seafood products—such as prawns, crabs, and lobsters—to the mainland or overseas like before, leading to falling prices and growing losses, locals say.

“We’ve suffered losses. We invested a lot in prawn farming, but now there’s nowhere to sell them. People are even planting rice in the prawn ponds. But rice doesn’t fetch a good price either,” said a prawn farm owner from Ann Township.

Locals say that while export-oriented seafood like tiger prawns, lobsters, and crabs from Arakan State have dropped in price, the prices of other fish have increased due to a shortage of fishermen.

In areas under the control of the Arakan Army, the price of fish per viss (approximately 1.6 kg) ranges between 20,000 and 50,000 kyats.

In the ongoing decisive war in Arakan, the Arakan Army has taken control of 15 townships, including Paletwa, and is now establishing administrative mechanisms as part of a revolutionary government for the people of Arakan.

Although the military junta still controls only three townships Sittwe, Kyaukphru, and Manaung locals report that junta navy vessels continue to patrol and operate bases along the coastal waters near townships like Maungdaw, Pauktaw, Myaybon, and Rambre.