TWO Myanmar researchers from the Department of Fisheries will participate in an international fishery survey to be conducted in the Bay of Bengal in the near future, a spokesperson from the department said earlier this month.

“The survey has been requested by Bangladesh and will be carried out by the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC) based in the Thailand,” said U Khin Ko Lay, the deputy director general of the department.

He said the survey, which will be conducted using a training and research vessel supplied by SEAFDEC, will cover all fishing blocks in the Bay of Bengal, including those in Myanmar’s territorial waters.

“Thailand will pay all expenses for the research,” U Khin Ko Lay said, adding that dates for the survey have not yet been determined.

The research team will include two people from each of the five member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping, which are Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

U Khin Ko Lay said the participation of Myanmar is important because the country will serve as the chair of BIMSTEC next year.

“We have to keep in touch with what is happening in the region so it is important for us to be involved in research with other BIMSTEC members,” he said.

Myanmar carried out a month-long fisheries survey in February and March using SEAFDEC’s MV SEAFDEC 2 research and training vessel.