The Myanmar military junta has banned residents of Sittwe Township’s Narikan Village from fishing in their primary livelihood creek, ostensibly citing security concerns while locals decry a blatant shakedown.

The restrictions, imposed several days ago, prohibit villagers from accessing local waters.

However, residents report that the ban is routinely flouted for those willing to pay bribes at military checkpoints.

"They no longer allow anyone to enter the creek," said a local source. "However, if people pay money at the checkpoints, those who pay are allowed to fish. Although they cite security as the reason, the reality is they mainly do it to collect checkpoint fees."

Roughly 30 families in Narikan Village depend entirely on the creek for survival.

The sudden ban has plunged daily-wage earners into severe financial distress, forcing them to continue paying rental fees for nets and fishing plots while unable to generate income, raising acute concerns over basic household needs and children's school expenses.

The fishing ban comes amid a broader clampdown in Sittwe Township, where the regime has forcibly relocated more than 10 villages under security pretexts while tightening military reinforcements and movement restrictions across the region.