After halting the offshore fishing till 30 June this year, although the sea remains rough due to severe weather conditions, 30 per cent of the offshore fishing trawlers have begun returning with their catches. On 12 July, marine products started arriving at the Yangon Port, marking the beginning of the supply of marine products to the Yangon fish market, according to the Kyimyindine fish market in Yangon.
Since the resumption of the fishing season in the first week of July this year, only about 30 per cent of the approximately 900 offshore fishing trawlers based in Yangon have been able to go out to sea, due to rough waves and unstable water conditions caused by strong winds. As a result, fish catches have been low.
“Since the reopening of this year’s fishing season, we’ve been facing strong winds and rough seas up until now. When the waves are high, fish catches are naturally low. However, those who rely on the fishing industry for their livelihood continue to work as usual despite the challenges. Out of all the offshore fishing vessels in Yangon, only 30 per cent have been able to go out to sea. Since it’s hard to predict when the waves will subside, many vessels are on standby, ready to depart. The boats that set out on 1 July have started arriving back at the ports as of yesterday, and marine products are now beginning to enter the market,” said U Kyaw Naing, Secretary of the Offshore Fishing Vessel Association.
Offshore fishing vessels from the Yangon Region are currently operating in the Ayeyawady Region’s offshore waters, while vessels from Myeik are fishing in the Taninthayi offshore areas. Out of the more than 3,000 offshore fishing vessels in Myanmar, some based in the Taninthayi Region are also actively engaged in catching fish and prawns at sea.
Fishing vessels started arriving at the jetty in Nyaungtan of Pazundaung Port and MNG Jetty in Kyimyindine Township of Yangon, on 12 July.
“Due to unfavourable weather conditions at sea, only one out of three offshore fishing vessels went out, mainly to conduct pilot fishing process at sea this year. However, today, fish carrier boats have started arriving. The majority of the catch includes golden snapper, river hued bard, ribbon fish, Sillago, llisha, and so on. Nearly 30 boats carrying marine products have arrived back at the port. Since marine products are now entering the market, the prices of freshwater fish may likely drop,” said Daw Tin Nwe, a fishery business owner from the MNG Jetty at the Kyimyindine Sanpya Fish Market.
Aung Than Oo/TTA
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