The Indawgyi Law in Kachin State. Due to a significant decline in the number of fish species and overall fish numbers, 10 no-fishing zones have been designed for the conservation of Indawgyi Lake in Kachin state. The authorities are conducting a monthly survey on the fish catch in the lake. There are 40 villages near Indawgyi Lake. A total of 546 fishermen from 15 villages fish there. According to fishermen, they found that the number of fish species and the catch have been on the decline. Maung Win, manager of Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary said: The major problem is fishermen from other regions are migrating to this region. They use both legal and illegal fishing methods and small fishing nets. We have fixed 10 no-fishing zones for the spread of fish species. It amounts to conserving one per cent of the Indawgyi Lake. Under the 10-year project, we will conserve one per cent every year. It amounts to conserving 10 per cent of the lake (which is equivalent to 6,400 acres). According to the future plan, local fishermen will continue conserving it with the technical assistance of the Indawgyi Wildlife Conservation Team. Locals and fishermen are less interested in the conservation works even though the Indawgyi Wildlife Conservation Team has been conserving it since 2008. In around 2015-2016, they started cooperating in it. Migrant fishermen don’t want to participate in it as their main target is to catch fish. There remain some illegal fishing cases. The conservation of Indawgyi biosphere reserve is being carried out by Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary in cooperation with the Friends of Wildlife group. The joint team conducts a survey on fish species four times a month. According to the survey, there are 93 fish species in the lake. Only 30 fish species can be used for commercial fishing.
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