Mon State Fisheries Federation officials told the Salween Times that the number of illegal fishing nets in the Gulf of Martaban, Mon State, has almost doubled.

The current Covid-19 third wave of military coups has led to the inability to conduct maritime patrols, leading to an increase in illegal fishing.

"Now it has become 50 out of 30. Now it can not be investigated at all. These illegal workers do a lot of work without supervision," he said. "One of the reasons we can't patrol is because we can do whatever we want with no catch."

A fisherman said the increase in illegal fishing with nets less than an inch has also reduced the catch for legal fishermen.

"We have not been able to catch any fish because of the increase in the number of traders," he said. In the past, we caught about 100 pounds of fish once, but now we have to catch up to 20 pounds, ”said a fisherman.

After the Mon State Hluttaw passed the Mon State Fisheries Law, marine inspections have been conducted at least once a month since 2018, but at present only at least twice a year, according to the Fisheries Federation.

On August 29, the Mon State Fisheries Federation; A patrol team comprising the relevant departments of the Workers' Development Group conducted a search and arrest operation at the mouth of the Sittaung River in Bilin.

According to the Mon State Fisheries Federation, 12 fishing boats and 12 fishermen were arrested during the patrol.

According to the Mon State Fisheries Law, violating sections (41), (42), (43) and (44) of the law without fishing can result in imprisonment for 6 months or a fine of 50,000 or both.

Fisheries law prohibits fishing in freshwater from May to July to prevent extinction, and fishing in saltwater from May to August.