DURING the early winter season, strong winds and storms at sea have disrupted normal fishing activities, causing a decline in saltwater marine products at the fish wholesale centre of Yangon port.
"The fish capture during early this month declines as there are not enough fish to catch. In previous months, it was not convenient to catch fish due to heavy storms, and we could catch when the wind and waves died down. We distributed to the ports when we captured them fish. In November, it was obvious that we could not catch well. As the number of captured fish declined, we sent them to the ports when we had enough products for a vessel. Therefore, the entry to the ports declined. Last year at this time, the fish capture was better," said U Kyaw Naing, secretary of the Fishing Vessel Association.
Last month, all the fishing vessels could not go out to sea, and the number of vessels at the port became higher early this month. Although the number of vessels arriving at the port could be estimated previously, it is not easy to estimate, and the marine product distribution system has changed in the saltwater marine product market and the domestic market.
"No fishing vessels have arrived for two days to Sanpya fish market. When the fish catches are low, each boat only delivers to port once it is full, so arrivals are fewer than usual. Boats may arrive tomorrow, but the next days are uncertain. Normally, at this time of year, fish arrivals are higher. We will have to wait and watch the situation in the second week of December,” said Daw Tin Nwe from the Kyimyindine Sanpya Fish Market.
The marine products are captured from onshore and offshore areas of Mon State and Ayeyawady Region for local consumption and export. Over 8,000 fishing vessels and fishing trawlers in Yangon Region are allowed to leave for the sea this year, and over 400 are currently in operation, whereas over 1,300 for offshore and 6,300 for onshore are allowed in Taninthayi Region. — Ottha/KTZH
