NSS – Aug 30 

The Fishing Department stated that rare Ayeyarwady dolphins are at the risk of being bombed by dynamite fishing. In fact, a female Ayeyarwady dolphin, that was assumed to be killed by battery shocking, was found on 26th August near Myohla Village located in Nyaung U Township. 

The department also stated that the area that found the aforesaid dead female Ayeyarwady dolphin isn’t the place dolphins are living and going. Therefore, the department is investigating the case for necessary actions. 

“We don’t see wounds in her. The dolphins are happened to die without wounds if they were being battery shocked, they die in that way from severe dizziness without wounds. If they were poisoned, tongues and eyes become transferring into red from internal bleeding,” the permanent secretary of the Fishing Department Hla Tun said. 

There are 76 Ayeyarwady dolphins as per statistics collected in 2022 in Myanmar. 

The fishermen use battery with wire ropes to electric shock the fishes in these days.  Although the authorities are notifying, arresting and preventing dynamite fishing and fishing with electric shocking, there are many fishermen who do not obey the rules in rural area. 

“The fishermen do not follow the orders. They do those prohibited fishing methods as the departmental officers cannot prevent them effectively since current situation isn’t safe for the security concern. Since the Ayeyarwady dolphins are the scared species, the fishing department will be preserving them within the budgets allocated by the State,” Hla Tun said.

The Ayeyarwady dolphins are living in the upper part of the Ayeyarwady River along Mandalay and Sagaing Regions.