A sustainable coastal fisheries project aimed at conserving coastal fish resources is being implemented by the Myanmar and Denmark governments, according to Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tun Lwin. An agreement was signed in December 2016 between both countries, and work has already begun in the Tanintharyi region and Rakhine state, he told The Myanmar Times on March 29. It was signed in last December. The project period is up to 2020. Denmark assisted Danish Krone 66 million (K13 billion), he said. Although Myanmar has a long coast line, coastal fish resources have been dwindling due to uncontrolled fishing by residents and thus this project was initiated for the conservation of fish resources. The project will include educating and training local residents with systematic fishing methods and providing necessary assistance for their livelihood and income generation. Now the survey is being conducted by foreign experts and local staff for what the local residents need. Then the survey team will submit the report, U Tun Lwin said. He said banning the residents from fishing is not a final solution to prevent fish resources from dwindling. We can’t tell them not to go fishing. They will keep on fishing. We will have to educate them not to use nets with small holes and dragging nets. Our department and the residents have to cooperate. he said, adding that there are currently two foreign experts working at the ministry’s office to offer assistance. He said the government is considering supplying long-hole nets and other forms of income generation methods. Joint fishery management teams will be formed at the village level to help reduce illegal fishing. This project is hoped to help raise the social-economic status of resident fishermen, reducing post-fishing wastage, supporting with necessary technology for value-addition and other income generation means. The project will be launched in Maungtaw, Sittwe and Kyaukphyu districts in Rakhine state and Dawei and Myeik districts in Tanintharyi region. It is expected to benefit about 4000 fishermen households. If successful, this project will be extended to other coastal areas, according to U Tun Lwin.