(WMMC) in Barcelona. WMMC is the largest and most important gathering Message from the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of marine mammal researchers in the world and this was a valuable oppor- tunity for young researchers his is the third edition of the English version of the to meet global experts and regional T Gulf of Mottama Project (GoMP). It comes during a colleagues, strengthen their time of high uncertainty with the ongoing Corona Virus knowledge of marine mammals, identi- Disease (COVID 19) crisis. The project is delivering emer- fy future collaborations, and raise the gency assistance in the many quarantine camps set-up profile of the Gulf of Mottama Project. for the returning migrants in the Gulf of Mottama area and Gulf of Mottama Project Newsletter Vol.3, April 20, 2020 is preparing for further assistance for the most affected On top of all of the inspiration they communities. gained from the conference, the team Contents received the J. Stephen Leatherwood This newsletter opens with a research conducted by Point

Marine Mammal Research in the B Training + Research on the porpoises (Neophocaena Nyan KMCO Seik/ © Min Photo Award for most outstanding presenta- tion on marine mammal research and phocaenoides) and Irrawaddy dolphins in the Gulf of Marine mammal research in the Gulf of conservation in South and Southeast Mottama. We learned from our fishermen in the GoM that these porpoises and Mottama……………..……………..…Pg. 1-2 Gulf of Mottama Asia. This award reflects not only their dolphins do live here and the project identified three different species. This is an stellar poster presentation, but also the important finding because as a project we are concerned with the conservation of Message from Chief Technical Advisor vulnerable species in our area and therefore it is important to identify the most (CTA)…………………………...... ……Pg. 2 award committee’s enthusiasm for rep- resentation from Myanmar, particularly endangered species. The results were presented at a World Conference on Ma- Mangrove Protection Creates Unity with so many young Myanmar re- rine Mammals in Barcelona, Spain. Here the Point B Team received the J. Ste- and Improve Future Resource searchers included as authors on the phen Leatherwood Award for most outstanding presentation on marine mammal Management …………………...…..Pg. 3-5 poster (20 in total). research and conservation in South and Southeast Asia. Congratulations; well done! Protection and Managing Our Marine for The long author list reflects how this Our Livelihood and The Future…….Pg. 6-7 The next article is on an experience we had in Aung Khan Thar, research was a valuable, and in many with Co-Management in the area. Together with the Fisheries Development Asso- Competency Based Curriculum Training for cases first, opportunity for young My- ciation and the GoMP team, the villagers identified an area of 10,000 acres where Skill Development and Employment….Pg.8 anmar researchers to learn about the the villagers themselves managed mangroves, which was also very suitable for importance of working with communi- mud-crabs fattening. The Chief Minister signed a decree to authorize the villagers ties to collect local ecological to manage the area. However, the ownership wasn’t very clear and one year later, knowledge and organize boats-based different government departments and private sector players wanted to convert surveys. It was also a chance to learn the area to make it suitable for rice farming. After a meeting between Government, about coastal conservation and fisher- Private sector, villagers and GoMP staff, it was decided to convert 1,000 acres for ies more broadly. rice production and the remaining 9,000 acres was used for mangrove and other conservation efforts. This experience showed that dialogue between different us- The conference experience and the ers of the coastal mudflats is essential in further developing the Gulf of Mottama award have added to the team’s moti- Co-management zones. vation to expand their work on marine Editor Source © IUCN website—https://www.iucn.org/news/myanmar/202001/young-myanmar-researchers- mammal conservation. They are now The next two pages show the result of a study conducted by students from the receive-award-marine-mammal-research-gulf-mottama better equipped to do so, with greater Marine Science Department on University in three villages in Mon Jos van der Zanden, Chief Technical knowledge and experience. Many State. These students collected data on Fisheries management and analyzed little over one year ago, we con- This team is made up of young re- Advisor (CTA) thanks to the Gulf of Mottama Project these with the help of the Environment Development Fund (EDF). The results A firmed - with our own eyes - the searchers from the Myanmar Coastal for supporting this research and the were presented back to the three communities where the data were collected. Layout Design presence of Indo-Pacific Finless por- Conservation Lab (MCCL) at Point B opportunity to attend this career- This step is very important in order for communities and Government departments poises (Neophocaena phocaenoides, Design + Training, a research and edu- changing conference! to make an informed decision on aspects related to fisheries management in the Min Nyan Seik, Knowledge Manage- Vulnerable) and Irrawaddy dolphins cation NGO based in Maw- GoM. In the coming years, we want to ensure that research data collected by stu- (Orcaella brevirostris, Endangered) in lamyine. Point B MCCL conducts re- ment and Communication Officer dents and staff from bot Mawlamyine and Bago Universities are reported back to the coastal waters of the Gulf of search and research training for SDC’s the communities and government departments to ensure that wise-use and man- Mottama. We jumped up and down in Gulf of Mottama Project, which sup- Contributors agement of natural resources is based on scientific data collected in the GoM. the boat, ecstatic to finally have these ports coastal natural resource manage- sightings after months of exploratory ment in the gulf, an area of extraordi- GoM Project Technical Officers, The last page of the newsletter, updates the reader on the skills for employment “detective work” interviewing fishermen nary biological productivity. The pro- (S4E) activities of the GoMP. This activity focuses on specific skills development, Partners and Academia and waiting for boat-friendly dry season ject’s biodiversity component initially in order to find meaningful employment (either self-employed or employed in an- to return. Some months later, we add- focused on migratory shorebirds, but other company) opportunities with a special focus on youth. The trainings are Contact Address ed Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins has now broadened after we confirmed based on an in-depth analysis of the interests and opportunities for this group. It (Sousa chinensis, Vulnerable) to the list the presence of these three small ceta- works with private sector players in the field of fashion design, beauty salons and PCIU Office: No. 29, Myo Shaung when they swam by the survey boat for cean species. The Gulf of Mottama Project is an initi- small automotive, who become the trainers for this program. Students are not only Rd, Taung Shan Su Ward, Maw- the first time. learning in training ceners but also practically learning in companies and learn ative of SDC, the Swiss Agency for lamyine, Because there has been so little re- Development and Cooperation, imple- how it is in real life to have a business. So far 491 trainees have graduated and Of course, local fishers had long known search done on its marine mammals, we are conducting a tracer study to find out where these graduates find employ- about these animals. In fact, they were mented by a consortium led by HEL- Email: [email protected] Myanmar has not been well represent- VETAS, together with NAG and ment. The result of the study will be available in the middle of 2020. the ones who first told us about ed at international conferences on ma- Fb: www.facebook.com/GoMP/ them. Based on the information they IUCN. The project started in 2015 and rine mammal research and conserva- is currently in its second phase. I do hope you enjoy reading this volume of the newsletter. The next newsletter will shared, our team became the first to do tion. In December 2019, with project have a special focus on the COVID 19 crisis. Stay healthy everybody! research on marine mammals in the support, MCCL’s Yin Yin Htay, Aung Gulf of Mottama, and this is the only Naing Soe, and Wint Hte participated in Jos van der Zanden active marine mammal project along the World Marine Mammal Conference Chief Technical Advisor GoMP. Myanmar’s long coastline.

Pg.1 GoMP Newsletter Vol.3 Gulf of Mottama Project …………………………….. …………………………... Mangrove Protection Creates Unity and Improves Future Resource Management

By: Than Htike Aung

PhotoMyint Oo ©

the fisheries and forest sector. They re- ments and local business people from ness people, village administration struc- quested the Mon state government to surrounding areas. It wasn’t clear to ture and other related departments. The authorize to use the land as a co- whom the land was allocated and several GoMP suggested to communicate with management zone for the local commu- government departments were in charge different stakeholders who were involved nity. The government gave the authoriza- of this allocation. During the early stages, in the case. The GoMP facilitated com- tion and community declared the Aung the local community were not able to in- munity members to gather the right infor- Khan Thar Co-management zone on fluence the land allocation in their favor mation and communicate the people- 16th Oct 2017. The people from the local and the local business people and ad- needs to the respective government ad- community were very proud of this ministrator wanted to convert the whole ministration bodies in order the reach a achievement and in their view created a area into new paddy land. fair decision on the wise-use of natural

Photo © Bago University © Photo brighter future for themselves and their resources on this newly formed land. The local community and the Village De- Mangrove Research trip by Bago University at Aung Kan Hlaing Village, Kaw Township. Photo—© Bago University children. Their dream became true. velopment Committee (VDC) consulted The GoMP facilitated technical support to his story started at the beginning of local elected parliament members, One critical thinking person in Aung However, conflicts started one year later, with the GoMP team to discuss how to measure the real needs of this newly T 2017 when villages started to plant state and district level department Khan Thar, U Myint Oo, strongly be- when new livelihood opportunities were overcome this issue using a conflict sen- formed land along the coast and devel- some mangroves in one small area heads actively participated. It was the lieved in the protection of natural re- identified by multiple government depart- sitive approach between the local busi- oped appropriate maps to enable in- near the coast of Thaton township in a start of a change in communication sources and mangroves since he knew small fishery village called Aung Khan between local community and the local from experiences that these habitats Thar. During that event two ministers, government in that area. are critical in the support for livelihoods of small fishermen and landless fami- lies. U Myint Oo was really concerned about his surrounding community, in which many villagers had a daily battle to survive because of lost fishing grounds and land near the coastal area of Thaton township. They identified an area of newly formed land near the coast where they went fishing daily. They also observed that this new land grows fast and supports food for the mud crab which could be- come a source of daily income for the

people who do not own boats. In order

PhotoMyint Oo © to protect these resources for a sus-

tainable improvement of their liveli- PhotoMyint Oo © hoods, they proposed to identify an area as co-management zone for both

The villagers were carrying the concrete piles for installation to mark as a crab protective area near Aung Kan Thar Village, Thaton Township, Photo—© FDA

Pg.2 GoMP Newsletter Vol.3 Gulf of Mottama Project formed decisions on the allocation of ment responded with the following 3. To develop detailed maps for the these resources in a sustainable man- actions: protected areas and boundary ner. stones to clearly identify the pro- 1. To take a detailed measurement of tected areas. After this information gathering, the this newly formed land by the Dis- After the decision by the State Gov- GoMP facilitated a public meeting in trict Land Utilization Committee. ernment, the local villagers made the Aung Khan Thar where other people 2. The measurement took into consid- demarcation stones and carried them from surrounding villages were invited. eration the conservation purpose of to identify the boundaries of the man- During this meeting they presented the land and the Environmental grove plantation and mud-crab protec- and discussed the plans for an envi- Conservation Department took part tion area for everybody to identify ronmentally wise use of of the area in this measurement. these areas. and a joint action plan was drafted for 3. The technical team submitted a all the users of the area including the report to the Mon State Cabinet for This is the first community-lead land technical recommendation of the For- decision making. allocation exercise in the area. It be- est Department and Department of After studying the report, the cabinet came possible through a careful and Fisheries. This action plan was pre- organized a public consultation during evidence-based advocacy approach,

sented the the General Administration which it invited all the community which formed the basis for the collab-

Department. members including farmers, fishers oration between stakeholders in a and landless people. The following positive manner. The Government had The leaders and villagers never gave agreement was made: a good learning experience on how to up on their dream to protect their re- collaborate among different depart- sources, which they value for their 1. To keep 9,000 acres as a mud crab ments and start the formation of a future use. Three village leaders protection area and mangrove Working Group at township level of

worked together and agreed on the plantation along the coast. Skill GoMP/ © Sector Photo the Coastal Resource Management allocation of this newly formed land 2. 800 -1,000 acres of farmland, far Committee. This incident showed all and she agreed to train 30 trainees with and they found a productive way to from the coast, will be allocated to involved the importance of integrated the support from the project. During the communicate this to the administrative landless people who want to grow management of natural resources and Skill Training for New Jobs training period, she got many customers body in order to stop the allocation of rice and other crops. This has still how collaboration reduces the risk of visiting her shop and was able to new land without public consultation. to be approved by the District Land By: Min Nyan Seik - KMCO conflicts in the daily work. strengthen her networks. Utilization Committee. Because of these efforts, the govern- uring the second phase of imple- ing & fashion design, beauty salon and Likewise, Ma Aye Mi Kyaw, Fashion & D mentation, the GoMP started “Skills automotive repair together with 32 em- Design School owner, set-up her busi- Development for Employment” (S4E) Ac- ployer trainers. According to Gulf of ness 10 years ago, but she did not have tivities with the aim to improve diversifica- Mottama Project’s Skills Development a training curriculum as course instruction tion of livelihoods in the coastal area. The Officer, Mi Khaing Khaing Oo, currently and based the training on her experienc- project targets 1,000 youth in the next 125 out of 490 youth were able to set up es to instruct the trainees. She said, she four years [2018—2021) to receive voca- their own businesses and some are work- had trained 30 young women on basic tional skills in multiple sectors. These ing in the garment factories. The remain- skills of tailoring but some of them could S4E activities will be implemented hand ing were not yet working as they graduat- not complete the course due to several in hand with the private sector through ed their course recently. The project is reasons. Since she cooperated with the partnership agreements. conducting a tracer study to follow up on GoMP, some changes occurred as she the careers of the graduates of this pro- was able now to teach more systemati- The main objectives of the S4E activities gram. cally as she received technical support are to empower local youth in vocational from GoMP on developing curriculum and skills, improve knowledge on business GoMP’s working approaches are to em- teaching lesson plans. Working with planning and financial management in power the local youth to enable them to GoMP improved her knowledge and con- order to increase family income. This ac- set up their business or find meaningful fidence on facilitating and teaching. She tivity is designed to work as practical ap- employment through skills they have ac- believes and hopes that her fashion and proach by applying method of competen- quired from skill trainings. In addition, the design school will become well known cy-based skills training. In the preparation GoMP approaches allow employer train- and successful in the future. stage the Gulf of Mottama Project staff, in ers to improve their ways of teaching to collaboration with private sector players, be more systematic and monitored which The Gulf of Mottama Project is working in assessed the skill requirements and inter- benefits their businesses in the long run. eight townships in Mon State and Bago est among youth, focusing on urban are- Ma Thiri Shwe, the owner of Hla Aka Ri Region. It focuses on conservation and as. Based on these requirements and Beauty Salon said, she had been working sustainable development in sectors such interest, the project invited employers to for 13 years in this business, but she did as fisheries, agriculture, water sanitation come together for developing a curricu- not have a regular customer like she has and hygiene, governance, skill develop- lum and course design in their respective inow. Before this S4E trainings, she only ment and research. profession. trained 15 trainees. In early 2018, she So far, the project trained about 490 signed a contract with the Gulf of Mottama Project as an employer trainer Mangrove Research trip by Bago University at Aung Kan Hlaing Village, Kaw Township. Photo—© Bago University youth on different skill sets such as sew-

Pg.3 GoMP Newsletter Vol.3 Gulf of Mottama Project

Protecting and Managing Our Marine Resources for Our Livelihoods and the Future

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