THE Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) said it plans to send a survey team later this month to townships in Yangon and Ayeyarwady divisions affected by floods during this year’s monsoon to determine the vulnerability of these areas to flooding in the future.

Heavy rainfall, mainly in August, caused heavy damage and millions of kyats in losses to fish and shrimp farms in Aikkalaung Kyun in Taik Gyi township and Bawle Kyun in Htan Ta Bin township in Yangon Division, and San Kin Kyun in Nyaung Done township in Ayeyarwady division.

“Entrepreneurs who own fish and shrimp farms in flood-affected regions have their doubts about whether those areas can support such businesses in the future,” said U Han Tun, the vice chairman of MFF.

“They want to know if floods can strike again and again in the coming years,” he said.

In response to these concerns, the federation’s chairman proposed during a central executive meeting that a survey team be sent to calculate the vulnerability of the region to future flooding, he said, adding that the federation planned to ask for help from DOF in conducting the survey.

Meanwhile, an official from DOF said the department was planning its own survey that would cover the entire Ayeyarwady delta region rather than just flood-affected areas.

“The team will survey the geographical conditions of the delta region, the tidal situation and how much rain is needed for flooding to occur,” said U Khin Maung Aye, the director general of the department.

He said the department also plans to calculate the water volume of dams and reservoirs in the region and determine how much land area would be affected if such structures were breached and the water escaped.

“After the survey we will be able to advise fish and shrimp farmers on how best to continue their business in the delta region,” U Khin Maung Aye said.