YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar has moved to protect the rapidly shrinking shark population in its southern waters which have been decimated by illegal fishing, the Myanmar Times said.

A shark protection zone was proposed late last month for Myeik archipelago, which comprises more than 800 islands stretching some 400 km (248 miles) north to south along the peninsula shared with Thailand, according to the edition of the semi-official weekly to be published Monday.

"The implementation of the proposal will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and will include enacting the necessary laws to protect sharks," Yin Yin Lay, director of the National Commission for Environmental Affairs, was quoted as saying.

She said the action was taken to stem the alarming decline of shark numbers in the zone due to illegal hunting for their fins, which are considered delicacies in parts of Asia.

Across the globe, fishermen have increasingly targeted sharks for markets in Southeast Asia where the expensive dish of shark fin soup is widely popular. Many shark populations have been knocked out by over-fishing, experts say.

Myanmar's environmental commission put the proposal to cabinet for approval after studying surveys done by the University of Mawlamyine, Yin Yin Lay said.