The Burmese word
for fish is Nga. There are almost three hundred
species of Myanmar freshwater fish like mrigal although
they are not very well known.
In the year 2000,
Myanmar exported 26,900 tons of fish and prawn
in the first six months. During this period
export earnings from fish and prawn went up
to 74 million U.S. dollars, increasing by 30.5
percent compared to the corresponding period
of 1999. The export itself went up by 9.3 percent
as compared to the previous year. Out of the
exports, fish amounted to19,100 tons, while
prawn was 7,800 tons.
Annually, Myanmar
produces over 910,000 tons of fish and prawn
including fresh water and deep sea ones and
exports 58,900 tons.
There were 400,480
hectares of fish and prawn breeding ponds in
Myanmar. But the number has increased, especially
the prawn breeding ones. According to a three
year plan from 2000 to 2003, this plan was executed
in the country's seven states and divisions.
The fishing industry
falls into the category of the third largest
contributor to the country's gross domestic
product [GDP] after agriculture and fishery.
The fishing industry contributes7.3 percent
to the GDP. After agriculture and forestry,
this also stands as the country's third largest
foreign exchange earner.
Myanmar's fish
and prawn consumption, per capita is 18 kilos
annually. Also, since foreign investments opened
up in Myanmar in late 1988, investment in the
live stock and the fishery sector has gone up
to 283 million dollars in 20 projects, according
to official statistics. The fishery sector has
an important role to play in the social and
economic development. The fishery resources
are crucial in the production of food and generation
of income and development.
The continental
shelf spreads over an area of 228751 km square.
Survey results showed that 1.0 mt of pelagic
fish and 0.75 mt of demersal fish exist as biomass
in Myanmar's marine fishery waters. Out of this
0.5 million tons of pelagic fish and 0.55 million
of demersal fish, together 1.05 million tons
in marked as the annual maximum sustainable
yield (MSY).
Earlier fish
in Myanmar was consumed in a dried, salted,
fermented, sauce and paste form. Now private
businessmen engaged in shrimp and fish exports
have invested in onshore facilities (e.g. ice
making, cold storage, processing and handling)
along the coast. This has encouraged small scale
fishermen to keep insulated fish holds or carry
ice boxes in their boats. 50% of this catch
is consumed in dried, salted, paste form, 35
% is consumed fresh, and only 3% is exported.
The average annual
production of marine fishing industry has been
growing at an average rate of 12%. This is attributed
to unavailability of fishing gears, shortage
of fuel and the use of traditional fishing methods.
The government's policy therefore is to encourage
the private sectors to invest in onshore facilities
like ice factories, refrigeration complexes,
cold storage plants etc.
In the recent
years, eight port facilities have been improved
in order to take care of fish, shrimp, mrigal and other
fishery products. Hence, now the department
of fishery is granting fishing rights and Joint
Venture agreement to the foreign companies.
Myanmar's most
important export product is shrimp. It possibly
accounts for 50% of the fishery export. Some
marine fish, namely Barramundi (sea perch), Red
Snapper, Chinese Pomfret and Hair tail have
been exported. The markets are Australia, Canada,
the EU, China as well as other countries. Frozen
shrimp is exported to the above mentioned countries
as well as Hong Kong. Dried shrimp is exported
to various countries in the Far East. Fresh
water fish such as Hilsa, mirgal, rohu, katla,
koi, sheat fish, ayre, boal among others are
also exported in considerable volumes.
To quote the
department of fisheries, fish export reached
US $94.85 million during 1999-2000 fiscal year
against total export of US$ 827.76 million.
This was possible because of increased harvesting
of brakish water shrimp. It was also possible
due to the privatization of the processing plants
and the marketing system. Most products are
exported through the Port of Yangon. Freshwater
and marine shrimp raw or dried are exported
through the Border trade. Foreign investments
in the fishing trade amount to US$ 19.57 million
which was 5.83% of the total foreign investment
in the country in 1999-2000.
Thus we have
seen that the Myanmar fishing industry has made
great headway in the last few years.
For price
quotes and any further information about fresh
water fish such as Hilsa, mirgal, rohu, katla,
koi, sheat fish, ayre, boal among others, please get
in touch with us at:
Siam
Canadian Foods Co., Ltd.
9th Floor, Suite 283/44, Home Place Office Building.
283 Thonglor 13, Sukhumvit 55
Kongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110,
THAILAND
Call us at +66-2-185-3311
Fax: +66-2-185-3317
Email us at info@siamcanadian.com
