The Gulf of Mottama Project (GoMP) has collected fisheries data from the Gulf of Mottama (GoM) since 2016. Initially anecdotal information was collected from fishing villages followed by collection of landing data from two fish buyers in the upper GoM (Kyaikto Township, Mon State). These data have shown an increase in landings and value since 2018 with the exception of a decrease in value in 2021 due to COVID19. In 2020 we initiated data collection directly from fishers from 3 villages from Bilin, Thaton and Paung Townships. Data were collected after each fishing trip via invoices from 5 fishers in each village. The data included catch, species, detailed price information including price for different sizes and gear type. We used the number of fishing days as an indicator of effort allowing us to calculate catch per day as an index of catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE).

The villages in Thaton and Paung Townships fished in the GoM while Bilin fishers fished in the Bilin River and estuary. The GoM fishing villages caught similar species dominated by Flathead Sillago (Sillaginopsis panijus), and Pama Croaker (Otolithoides pama) and had similar catch, value and catch per day indicators. They also used similar fishing gears and switched gears in July to target Silago.

The Bilin village used smaller-scaled fishing gear and caught different species with Flathead Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus) along with a related Corsula (Fresh Water Mullet) (Rhinomugil corsula) comprising 40% of the catch and Pama Croaker an additional 22%. They fished more days but catch per day was about 75% less than the other two villages.

In 2022 there was a considerable difference between villages. The village of Thaton reduced their fishing days by 50% with similar decline in catch and value, while the village of Paung maintained fishing days but catch was reduced. The village of maintained fishing days but had a substantial increase in catch and value. There were also anecdotal reports of a substantial decline in the number of fishing boats in the two GoM villages. These changes indicated the continuing need for detailed data from each village and makes it difficult to generalise across villages.

Fish prices were similar between the villages with prices in 2021 lower for all villages reflecting the disruption in fisheries supply chains due to COVID19. Prices increased considerably in 2022 in spite of the economic and political chaos, reflecting the currency devaluation and increased cost of fishing.

Previously GoMP has shown that Pama Croaker buyers sort fish into eight size categories that are included in the invoices. This allows us to estimate size, weight and age of the catch. The Pama croaker catch from all the villages has been dominated by 2-year-old fish except in 2022 when a large number of larger fish (>5 years old) were caught by the Bilin fishers.

Each individual fisher’s data were examined. The Bilin fishers showed considerable consistency between years and each fisher had similar catch and value indices. In the other two villages, 3 out of 5 fishers accounted for most of the catch. There was also a considerable change over the three years with some fishers reducing or stopping fishing necessitating their replacement for data collection.

There is a decline in the CPUE indices from 2021 to 2022 but it is difficult to interpret these trends due to the changes in the economic and political conditions that has affected fishing behaviour. We suggest the collection ofadditionalinformationtobetterunderstandthesetrends. Weconcludebysuggestingdatacollectionshould continue with the development of a sustainability plan to ensure data collection continues after the project ends in 2024.