Establishment of a third fish conservation zone in the Sittaung River, Myanmar
The Sittaung River flows from central Myanmar into the Gulf of Mottama and features a distinctive funnel shape at the estuary. The interaction between the river’s outflow and tidal movements creates a high-turbidity brackish water environment that supports a rich diversity of aquatic life. Economically important fish species such as Hilsa shad, Pama croaker, and Mango are anadromous meaning that they migrate upstream to spawn and then migrate downstream to mature in the gulf.
Fish stocks are threatened by illegal fishing, particularly the use of small-mesh fence nets (locally known as Than Za Gar Pike), which indiscriminately capture large numbers of juvenile fish. Local fishers have reported a marked decline in catch volumes in recent years.
In response, the SDC Gulf of Mottama Project, implemented by IUCN in partnership with HELVETAS and Network Activities Group (NAG), has promoted sustainable fisheries management through community-based conservation. A key strategy is the establishment of community-managed Fish Conservation Zones (FCZs) along the Sittaung River. These zones aim to conserve aquatic biodiversity and improve local livelihoods through increased fish stocks and improved fisheries governance.
Potential FCZ sites were identified through assessments of fish spawning areas and social potential for leadership, cohesion and participation. IUCN then engaged local communities through consultations, ensuring free prior informed consent or FPIC in determining each FCZ’s location, size, and management approach, whether year-round no-take or seasonal closure. The FCZ operates through strong community involvement, with responsibilities shared among local fisher groups and authorities.
In 2023 and 2024, two FCZs, each covering 10 hectares with a year-round no-take approach, were formally approved by local authorities. Mini trust funds (MTFs) were established for each FCZ to provide financial autonomy to local fisher groups, supporting the implementation of their management plans under the guidance of FCZ management committees.
On 26 March 2025, the Mon State government approved the establishment of a third FCZ in the Sittaung River estuary. This FCZ, spanning 600 hectares, adopts a seasonal closure approach: fishing is prohibited during the fish spawning months of May-July, while illegal fishing is banned year-round. The FCZ is managed by a Local Fisher Group consisting of 23 members from Koe Tae Su and Kyar Si Aung Villages in Bilin Township.
IUCN has provided a MTF in Myanmar kyat equivalent to about $5,000. This amount is placed in a fixed-term deposit at a local bank with the annual interest rate of 11% allocated for FCZ operations. These include boundary demarcation, community outreach, patrolling, and incident reporting for enforcement purposes.
To evaluate the effectiveness of these FCZs, IUCN has established an M&E system that involves the collection of fish catch data by local fishers, along with quarterly community meetings to conduct self-evaluations, address ongoing challenges, and promote adaptive management.
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