AN average of 300,000 viss of freshwater fish is processed daily at Shwe Padauk Fish Market in Hline Township, Yangon, which mainly distributes aquatic products to townships in Yangon, regions, and states, according to the Shwe Padauk Fish Market Development Committee.
To supply freshwater products to approximately seven million people in the Yangon Region and to people in other regions, Shwe Padauk Fish Market in Hline Township and the Kyimyindine Baho Sanpya Fish Market distribute aquatic products daily. This winter, Shwe Padauk Fish Market is handling about 300,000 viss of freshwater products and 150,000 viss of saltwater products per day.
“In recent months, the inflow of freshwater products had been low, but since early November, imports have stabilized. This month, inflows have reached nearly 250,000 to 300,000 viss per day. As it is the season, fish farms are supplying more fish, and a steady inflow is expected to continue until April. After Yangon, freshwater fish products are distributed to Pathein, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Monywa, Kalay, Mawlamyine, and Myawady. Compared with the rainy season, prices are dull slightly, but trade has been good. Problems with selling goods under credit systems arise only when supplies are high, especially for companies. If there is a steady demand for Rohu from Bangladesh, which consumes more Rohu than the regular domestic market, the farmed fish market would improve, and economic activity would become more efficient. The raw materials are already available in the country,” said U Maung Naing, Secretary of the Shwe Padauk Fish Market Development Committee.
Fish from the Ayeyawady, Yangon, and Bago Regions are mainly exported to major markets such as Bangladesh, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, in addition to the two major domestic markets. In Bangladesh, the fish are processed and packaged by buyers before being exported to other countries. According to freshwater and saltwater fish farmers, the ability to export fish products directly from the country of production would provide livestock farmers and entrepreneurs with more business opportunities.
Shwe Padauk Fish Market receives about 30 types of freshwater products and 15 types of saltwater products, including farmed fish such as Rohu, Pangasius catfish, Catla, Pomfret, tilapia, and wild-caught fish from rivers and streams such as Stinging catfish, Asian walking catfish, Climbing perch, Common snakehead, Spiny eel, and India gagata. Some freshwater products are supplied to the Kyimyindine Baho Sanpya Fish Market, while various saltwater products arrive at the market port from the Ayeyawady, Yangon, Bago, and Taninthayi regions, as well as Mon State. These two fish markets export fish products to the mountainous regions, as well as central and lower Myanmar, and Rohu to Bangladesh.
Shwe Padauk Fish Market, which supports the daily seafood needs of Yangon and plays a key role in the country’s seafood trade, is open every day from 3 am to 5 pm. It comprises 444 shops, and more than 90 stalls for hawkers at seven complexes across an area of 8.172 acres, and is bustling with seafood buyers, distributors, trucks, and fish-carrying vessels. — Thitsa (MNA)/TH
