ALTHOUGH freshwater prawns from natural water sources, including seawater prawns and farm-raised prawns, have entered the two markets of Yangon, the strong demand has kept prawn prices high in the market, according to the two markets.
Although both seawater and freshwater prawns enter the market, the prawn price remains high during this monsoon season due to strong demand exceeding supply. This is because, over the past month of the fishing season, full-scale catches could not be achieved as a result of storm at sea caused by climate changes, and many freshwater prawn farms in Twantay, Nyaungdon, Bawle Island, Khattiya, and ponds in the Bago Region experienced flooding last year, and suspended operations or reduced production this year.
“The fishing vessels enter the Yangon jetties. The sea prawn like tiger, flower, white and gold prawn exported to China are included. The arrivals of boats to the jetty depend on the weather conditions, and the more arrivals there are, the more distribution we can make. The sea prawn price is on the rise as it is an export product. If we want cheap prices, we need to catch and breed the freshwater and saltwater prawns more and more. Currently, the prawn prices are on the rise,” said Daw Tin Nwe from the Kyimyindine Sanpya fish market.
The tiger prawn is priced at K45,000 to K55,000 per viss, while K35,000 and K45,000 per viss of flower and white prawns and K23,000 per viss of gold prawn. The saltwater prawn: Vannamei fetches K35,000 per viss, whereas K60,000 per viss of Caridea.
The saltwater prawns entering Yangon are transported to the cold storage facilities for export, and the non-marketable prawns are distributed in local markets. The Caridea is exported, and the Vannamei is sold in local markets.
“It is the prawn season, and the Shwepadauk fish market receives freshwater prawns. The Cardiea is priced at K30,000 and K35,000 per viss. However, the supply is low and the consumption rate is high, and the price is still on the rise. Depending on the supply, the price changes,” said U Maung Naing from the Shwepadauk fish market.
In the last week of June, the Cardiea was K19,000-K20,000 per viss, and it was K35,000 per viss yesterday. — Thitsa (MNA)/KTZH
