Large numbers of waders winter in Myanmar's Gulf of Martaban and local hunters set nets to catch the waders for food. About half the population of the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper winter here and it is thought that this trapping is the most likely cause of the rapid recent declines of this species.

BirdLife Myanmar with the support of BirdLife International carried out socio-economic surveys and provided livelihood replacement support in communities on both the eastern and western shores of the Gulf of Martaban.

Following these surveys, each household was revisited to devise a suitable alternative livelihood for each subsistence and opportunistic hunter in exchange for a vow to cease hunting activities. Once a suitable replacement livelihood has been identified, funds were provided for each individual to start up their new work. These funds were used to purchase assets such as livestock, fishing boats and building materials. Alongside this, educational activities were carried out in the villages to increase local awareness and appreciation of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and the other species.

On the eastern shore, nine of the 15 hunters had increased their livelihood status since the intervention and the other six had neither increased nor decreased their livelihood status. Hence the intervention has been hailed as a success, both for the birds and for the people. A follow-up survey has yet to be conducted within the western-shore communities.