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AS Myanmar’s fishing season has resumed, fishing vessels from the Yangon Region have been reporting good catches of fish and shrimp, enabling consumers to purchase seafood at more affordable prices, according to Kyimyindine port in Yangon.

The fishing boats started fishing on 15 June and captured a large number of fish and shrimp. On 1 July, they returned to jetties in Yangon, and the fresh saltwater products were distributed to the consumers. Although catches have been good at the start of the season, export-level fish arrivals to the ports remain limited.

“Today marks the sixth batch of fishing vessels arriving at the port. Many boats are taking shelter near islands because of stormy conditions at sea. Some vessels took the risk of returning early to prevent their catch from spoiling. At the beginning of the fishing season, fish prices were high, but as catches increased and more fish and shrimp entered the market, prices declined. We are pleased that consumers can now buy seafood more easily. However, catches of large fish remain low, so exports are still limited, said Daw Tin Nwe, a marine products trader at Kyimyindine port.

As it is the bottom trawling fishing season, certain fish species, including small-sized ones, are captured most, and the port receives over 70 types of fish.

The Yangon saltwater market experienced particularly strong trading during the first three days after fresh catches began arriving. As fish arrivals increased beyond consumer demand, prices of saltwater products fell. During last year’s reopening of the fishing season, diesel shortages limited fishing activities, keeping saltwater product prices high. This year, improved diesel availability has enabled more vessels to operate, and better catches have contributed to lower saltwater product prices.

“The fishing season was suspended for three months, from April to June, but it resumed on 15 June due to the livelihood difficulties faced by fishermen. Weather conditions at sea remain unstable, and the fish being caught are still relatively small. Of about 1,000 fishing vessels in Yangon Region, only around 300 have been able to go out because of storm conditions,” said U Tun Tin, Deputy Director of the Fishing Vessel Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Department (Yangon).

Fishing vessels are currently operating in the waters of Taninthayi and Ayeyawady using three main fishing methods: fishing ground, trawl fishing and gill-net fishing.

Thitsa (MNA)/ KTZH

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