Myanmar marine conservation policy workshop held

 November 16, 2017

A workshop on drafting Myanmar marine conservation policy was held yesterday morning at the Mann Myanmar Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw.

Forest Department Director General Dr Nyi Nyi Kyaw delivered an opening speech at the opening ceremony for the workshop, which was attended by representatives from states/regions, professors/lecturers from universities, representatives from non-government organisations, marine conservation experts such as Professor Mr. Philip Dearden University of Victoria (Canada) and invited guests.

At the workshop, attendees discussed classifying Myanmar Marine Protected Area (MPA) zones, framework and future programmes.

The workshop was held to draw up a Myanmar marine conservation policy (draft) which is the duty and responsibility of a central committee for the administration and management of natural resources in coastal areas (national level). Coastal and marine areas in Myanmar are 2,831 kilometers long from the mouth of Naf River in Rakhine State to Kawthaung, where Myanmar joins with Thailand. Offshore shallows cover about 225,000 square kilometers and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers about 486,000 square kilometers, it is learnt.

The main threat to Myanmar marine and coastal regions is unsustainable fishing, pollution of the ocean and the destruction of mangrove forests, seagrass and coral reefs that are important for the survival of fish species. Climate change is damaging the ecosystem and the bio-species in marine and coastal regions that results in declining production of fish, marine experts said at yesterday’s workshop.

State-level policy on marine and coastal regions that will result from yesterday’s workshop will support the pledges made in international circles on extending the marine and coastal nature conservation areas. Most importantly, the marine conservation policy drawn up must be not for conservation and protection sector only but encompasses the three sectors of conservation, protection and sustainable usage, experts said.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar