Some 568,227.327
metric tonnes of fishery products, worth US$717.7 million, were exported to
foreign trade partners in the 2017-2018 fiscal year (FY), the highest volume in
20 years, according to an official release by the Agriculture, Livestock and
Irrigation Ministry.
This year,
fishery exports through the Kawthoung border gate to Thailand improved
considerably, according to the release.
Some 74,179.91
metric tonnes of fishery products, valued at $167.1 million, were shipped to
foreign countries in the 1997-1998 FY. In the 2011-2012 FY, fishery exports
reached 386,981.324 metric tonnes with an estimated value of $653.85 million.
“Myanmar exports
only raw fish materials, but value-added products are required to enhance the
sector. To boost fishery exports in the coming years, concerted efforts are
needed to develop the whole supply chain, from fish farming and catching to
processing. Additionally, we also need to conserve the fish resources for the
future generations. Excessive exploitation must be strictly avoided,” said U
Tun Win Myint, Director of Yangon Region Fisheries Department.
Daw Toe Nanda
Tin from the Myanmar Fishery Federation (MFF) said efforts were being made to
adopt advanced farming technologies to enhance the fishery export sector. New
markets are also being explored, he added. The federation will set up projects
to improve the Myanmar fishery industry, in cooperation with the region and
state officials concerned. Also, MFF has plans to establish a public company.
“If the country
can farm fish and prawn varieties, which grow quickly, its fishery income is
likely to reach $1 billion. We are focusing on international marketing to
determine which market we should enter. Moreover, we are also working on the
supply level, so that we can meet the demands of the new markets,” said Daw Toe
Nanda Tin.
There are more
than 408,000 acres of fish and prawn lakes across Myanmar.
By May Thet Hnin
Ref; The Global
New Light of Myanmar
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