THE Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) is planning to organise a paper reading session for the further development of the Myanmar fishery sector before the federation’s 10th anniversary in the last week of January.

“We are planning to organise a paper reading session through experts within the Department of Fisheries, the federation and the fisheries associations. We will also invite teachers and professors from various universities to present their papers on the development of the nation’s fisheries sector,” said U Win Kyaing, the MFF’s general secretary.

He said the MFF aims to celebrate its anniversary and annual general meeting in grand fashion and hopes the paper reading session will spark further development of the industry.

The paper reading will be held three days before the general meeting and will be accompanied by product shows and an educational exhibition on fisheries products and resources conservation.

Daw Toe Nandar Tin, an executive member of the MFF, said the fisheries sector is facing a huge challenge in the form of global recession as it approaches its 10th birthday.

She said it was up to the federation to provide whatever guidance and assistance it could to stave off crisis for the industry.

“We estimate that foreign orders in the new year will drop by about 50 percent following the global recession. This could potentially be a huge blow to farmers because it takes years for fish to reach saleable size and now both market demand and prices have dropped considerably,” she said.

She suggested that the MFF could help farmers by helping them switch to species that grow faster and sell better.

Entry to the readings will be free and they will be held the Thiri Anawah Hall at the MFF headquarters on Bayint Naung Road, Insein Township.