YANGON: The fishing season has officially reopened in Myanmar’s waters as of July 1, 2025, but some fishing boats are facing crew shortages, according to industry sources.
While some vessels have already set sail, others remain docked due to a lack of workers, ongoing preparations, and weather monitoring.
"The fishing season started on July 1, and some trawlers have already headed out to sea. The main challenge right now is the shortage of fishing crew. Some boats haven’t even left the docks yet because repairs are still underway, and there aren’t enough workers. I estimate only about 60% of boats have gone out so far. The remaining 40% are delayed due to labour shortages, unfinished repairs, and weather concerns," said a representative of a trawler fishing group.
Despite it being July, monsoon conditions are preventing certain types of boats—such as watan (open-sea fishing) and kinmun (light-luring) vessels—from operating. These boats are expected to resume work only by late September.
"Trawlers can still operate in bad weather by sheltering near islands, but watan boats can only work in calm seas, so they’ll likely start in September. Kinmun boats are the same—they need clear conditions," explained a watan boat operator.
This year’s fish breeding season was observed from April 1 to June 30, during which fishing was banned in designated zones.
Although all fishing boats are now permitted to operate in July, only about half have managed to set sail due to ongoing challenges. - Eleven Media/ANN
