Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) urged government force oil and gas companies to focus on environmental conversation while conducting explorations

Myanmar Fishery Federation (MFF) has urged the government force oil and gas companies to focus on environmental conservation while conducting explorations, said U Win Kyaing, General Secretary of MFF, at the meeting held on March.

“Before allowing companies to extract oil and gas, the government should consult with stakeholders. It should conduct research on how much oil and gas projects have affected Myanmar’s fishery resources, and before any new projects are started in a particular area, additional research on local fishery resources and how it might be affected by a new project. There is currently no research on this. A brief explanation just before a project starts is not enough. The MFF and oil and gas companies are sometimes not in good terms because we try to push this issue a lot,’’ he added.

He suggested employing third party company to conduct impartial research and analyses. He also said that most of the oil and gas companies would inform some of local people and Myanmar Fishery Federation just before the extraction instead of explaining everything from exploration to finding the reserves.

“Now, companies are operating their projects to the places where there is plenty of fish. Once the project starts, fishermen cannot enter the area. This puts an undue burden on fishermen to find new places. Regulator should address this,” said U Kyaw Naing, Secretary of Myanmar Marine Fishery Association, said.

“Fishermen are losing the places where they can catch a lot of fish to oil and gas project and, therefore, losing jobs,” U Win Kyaing said.

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/mff-urges-government-emphasize-environmental-conservation )

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