Fishing Season Resumed: Only 30% Of Fishing Boats Back In Operation In Myiek

Fishing season resumed on 1st September after three months closed season from June to August.

In Taninthayi Region, only 30% of fishing boats have back to operation due to less market demand caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Taninthayi Coast lies in the southern part of Myanmar. It is the longest coast in three of Myanmar coasts with the length of 1200 Kilometers.

The Secretary of Taninthayi Region Fishery Federation stressed the needs of more cold storages for processing marine products in Myeik. He added that the market condition can only be known after two weeks of operation.

Secretary, Taninthayi Region Fishery Federation, Thet Soe said “Currently, only 30% of fishing boats are in operation. So, there might be difficulties in fish market. But only when the fishing boats are back in operation, the live of fishermen will be rescued.”

The catches of fish from Myeik are used to export to Ranong of Thailand, but the market condition is not certain amid the pandemic.

The official from Myeik District Fisheries Department urged the entrepreneurs to adjust the operation of fishing boats depending on the market condition.

Head, Myeik District Fisheries Department, Htun Naung Oo said “The catches of fish are export to Ranong after being issued the Catch Certificate (CC). But Ranong side has stockpiled of marine products that were remained from the previous years' import because of the outbreak of COVID-19 disease. They might not purchase more export from here. The entrepreneurs need to adjust the numbers of fishing boats that will be back to operation depending to the market condition.”

Myanmar exports fisheries products to markets in 40 countries, including Thailand, China, Saudi Arabia, the US, Japan, Singapore and countries in the European Union. Over 580,000 tons of fishery products were exported in 2018-2019 fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.