IRIN
MYANMAR: Cyclone fishermen await assistance
11 July 2008


PYAPON, 11 July 2008 (IRIN) - Ten weeks after Cyclone Nargis hit, only a 
fraction of the small-scale fishermen - the backbone of the industry - 
have returned to work in the Ayeyarwady Delta, a labyrinth of rivers, 
ponds and waterways along the coast of the Adaman Sea.

In addition to damaging coastal fisheries, both large and small, the 
cyclone devastated fish-processing facilities in the area, exacerbating 
unemployment and the conditions of Myanmar's poor, many of whom depend 
on wage labour to make ends meet.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), almost 
18,000 fishermen lost their lives when the typhoon struck, while another 
10,000 are still missing.

"If you multiply this back into households and people affected, you can 
imagine the order of magnitude," Albert Lieberg, mission leader for an 
FAO assessment team that travelled to the delta in June, said.

The government estimates that more than 2,000 fishing boats - both 
"inshore" and "offshore" - were damaged by Nargis, with a cumulative 
loss of US$276,000, although others believe the real number to be 
significantly higher.

In-shore boats are generally smaller wooden canoe-like vessels, often 
without motors, that stay close to shore, but account for most of the 
industry's output, while off-shore boats are generally larger and 
motorised, and capable of staying at sea for extended periods.

Hla Maung Shwe, deputy chairman of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation, 
reported that about 55 percent of the fishing industry had been 
affected, which will likely affect this year's fish exports - a vital 
component of the area's fragile economy.

Last year alone, Myanmar exported more than 350,000 metric tonnes (MT) 
of fish to Europe, China, Thailand, Japan and the Middle East.

However, cold-store managers in Yangon, the former Burmese capital, 
report not receiving any fish to export from the delta over the past 
month, forcing them to rely on fish being brought in from Rakhine State 
in the west of the country near Bangladesh instead.

In-shore fishing generally accounts for much of the country's export 
trade, local businessmen say. It also affects the most people. But 
despite their importance to the economy, few of these fishermen have the 
means to restore their livelihoods.

"In-shore fishermen urgently need fundamental tools [boat and nets] for 
the sake of their livelihoods and exports," one local fishery analyst 
told IRIN. "Our country's fish-export market largely relies on them."

Government efforts

Myanmar's Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has taken measures, 
including lifting certain restrictions, allowing fishermen to catch fish 
freely in otherwise restricted areas from June to August so that 
fishermen can restore their livelihoods quicker.

In addition, scores of craftsmen from various parts of the country have 
been hired to build thousands of smaller boats for those fishermen 
living in the affected areas of Bogale, Labutta, Pyapon, Mawlamyinekyun, 
Kunchankone, Daedayal and Ngputaw to buy in instalments over the next 
five years.

The government has also reportedly handed over some boats and nets to 
local authorities to deliver to needy fishermen.

However, given the scale of the damage, much more is needed, 
particularly in the more rural parts of the delta where many of the 
fishermen live and access remains limited, say specialists.

"It all comes down to funding," said one observer, who believes that the 
industry, despite its importance, receives little of the domestic and 
international assistance it needs compared with other sectors, such as 
health and agriculture.

The FAO has proposed a number of measures, including restoring local 
boat-building facilities. "Wood is available and should not be a major 
problem," FAO's Lieberg said.

The agency is considering distributing gear and nets, as well as the 
refurbishment and restocking of facilities in the area.


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