YANGON: Along Myanmar's Ayeyarwady River, Irrawaddy dolphins swim with local fishers in a rare cooperative partnership that has thrived for more than a century.
In villages across central Myanmar, this unique alliance endures: fishers and dolphins work together to catch fish, bound by mutual understanding rather than the tools of modern fishing, turning a century-old bond into a sustainable way of life for river communities.
For local fishers like Maung Lay, 67, from Sin Kyun Village in Madaya Township of the Mandalay Region, the bond with dolphins is deeply personal, as he began fishing with the help of Irrawaddy dolphins in 1984.
"Unlike modern fishing methods, fishing with Irrawaddy dolphins relies on cooperation rather than force," he said.
"In practice, I gently tap my boat using small wooden pieces to signal the dolphins. The dolphins then herd fish toward the nets, and a leading dolphin signals with its tail when the fish are ready to be caught," he said.
"Fishing naturally gives fewer fish. But with Irrawaddy dolphins, fishers get more fish in a shorter time and with less effort," Maung Lay said.
"When some fish escape from the net, the dolphins easily take and eat them. It's a mutual dependence," he added.
Now a fisher leader, Maung Lay provides training in villages across Mandalay and Sagaing regions, teaching fishers how to protect Irrawaddy dolphins, communicate with them and practice cooperative fishing.
"I conduct trainings to preserve the practice and create job opportunities for younger generations," he said.
"I don't define my relationship with Irrawaddy dolphins as mutual cooperation," he said. "I define it as gratitude. They help me fish better, support my livelihood, and I respect them," he added.
The practice of fishing with Irrawaddy dolphins continues along the Ayeyarwady River, linking conservation with local livelihoods and preserving a rare bond between humans and nature, he said.
According to Han Win, a fisheries officer from the Research and Development Division under the Environmental and Endangered Aquatic Animal Conservation Unit of the Department of Fisheries, Irrawaddy dolphins have been found in the river for centuries.
While the species is not unique to Myanmar and can also be found in several South-East Asian countries, Myanmar is one of the few places where fishing in cooperation with dolphins is still practiced.
"This culture can attract foreign tourists and support local incomes. Preservation benefits both nature and communities," he said.
"Since 2002, the department has shared Irrawaddy dolphin conservation knowledge in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society and local communities, and has taken action against illegal fishing practices that threaten the species," he said.
The department has also worked with international partners and attended conservation workshops under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Fund in Cambodia in 2025. It plans to seek funding and technical support through the project, he added.
"We plan to resume more research and conservation activities soon. If local or international organisations want to cooperate with us, we welcome it," he said.
"Conservation is crucial not only because Irrawaddy dolphins are endangered, but also because they represent a traditional practice that reflects a close human-dolphin relationship," he added. - Xinhua
