IRRAWADDY DOLPHINS AND CASTNET FISHERMEN HAVE BEEN PROTECTED BY DEPARTMENT OF FISHEREIS IN MYANMAR. In the Chapter V, Protected Wildlife and Wild Plants, Article 15 of The Protection of Wildlife and Protected Areas Law (The State Law and Restoration Council Law No. 6/94), it is described that - The Director General (*of Forest Department*) shall, with the approval of the Minister – (a) declare according to the following categories of wildlife species which are to be protected from extinction; (i) completely protected wildlife species; (ii) protected wildlife species (iii) seasonally protected wildlife species; According to the above Article 15, Forest Department declared a list of to be protected animals by Notification No. 583/94 on 26th. October 1994 and Irrawaddy dolphins are listed in the "Completely Protected Animals" category. In order to safeguard and prevent the extinction of Irrawaddy dolphins, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Department of Fisheries (DoF), issued Notification No. 11/2005 on 28th. December 2005. The Notification No. 11/2005 prohibits the catching fish with using with the – (1) gillnet obstructed in waterway; (2) gillnet stretched from bank to bank of the river; (3) drift net longer than 300 feet; and (4) fishing implements and fishing methods that prohibited by the DoF from time to time between Kyaukmyaung and Mingun segment of the Ayeyawady river (formerly known as Irrawaddy river). The Notification also stipulated that the catching or killing of Irrawaddy dolphins and trade in whole or parts of them is also prohibited, and in the case of accidentally caught by fishing net, fishermen shall release them alive without delay. This prohibited area is also the virtual protected area of the Department of Fisheries for Irrawaddy dolphins and castnet fishermen. Castnet fishing with the help of Irrawaddy dolphin is a unique of Myanmar and it has been practicing for centuries in upper reaches of the Ayeyawady river. Cooperative fishing with Irrawaddy dolphins can be observed in the above Kyaukmyaung to Mingun segment of the river. In order to perpetuate the cooperative fishing practice with Irrawaddy dolphins and to enhance the conservation of the dolphins, DoF also issues special ID to the castnet fishermen who fish with the help of Irrawaddy dolphins within the area. In collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), DoF has opened an office in Mandalay to monitor and patrol the above mentioned virtual protected area regularly. According to the Protection of Wildlife and Protected Areas Law (The State Law and Restoration Council Law No. 6/94), Minister for Forestry, with the approval of the Government, can designate a Protected Area by issuing notification. No notification for Irrawaddy dolphin Protected Area has been issued so far. Therefore, though official Protected Area for Irrawaddy dolphins has not been established yet, the above mentioned virtual protected area for Irrawaddy dolphins and castnet fishermen has been established by DoF in Myanmar by prohibiting some fishing gears, prohibiting the catching, killing and trading Irrawaddy dolphins, notifying instructions for dolphin accidental catch and, regular monitoring and patrolling in the area. Tint Tun Marine Biologist Union of Myanmar email: tinttun@gmail.com cetaceanmm@mail4u.com.mm