MYANMAR Fisheries Federation and Myanmar Fish Farmers’ Association are planning to collect statistical data on the current situation of fish farms throughout the country.

The data collection exercise was planned following the damage caused to the sector by Cyclone Nargis, the global financial crisis and the fall in the dollar price of exports, which underlined the need for accurate statistics for the long term sustainability of the fisheries sector, said U Win Kyaing, general secretary of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation.

The exercise aims at assessing the real situation in the fisheries sector, identifying its requirements and difficulties, and addressing those problems.
The data collection began on February 20 and will last until October, covering all the states in the country, but prioritising those with the most breeding acres and production facilities.

A sample survey was carried out in Twante and Kayan townships in order to train volunteers and fish vendors in the township on how to complete the survey.

“There will be 29 survey questions,” said U Win Kyaing. “After we have got the results from our sample survey, we will show the results to the minister and continue with the other divisions,” he said.

The first priority was the divisions that contain more breeding acres and production facilities, which include Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago, Sagaing and Mandalay, with the rest coming later.

“The program group will be led by the chairman of the Myanmar Fish Farmers’ Association and helped by the executive members from different divisions and members from those towns-hips,” said U Win Kyaing.

The facts in the survey will include how much production and sales have fallen due to the current situation, the difficulties the sector faces, and requirements for its sustainable development.