The master plan for new fish and prawn breeding zones in Yangon is pending on Union level approval

Some 10,000 acres of land near Twante Township in Yangon Region will be cleared for the farming of fish and prawns once Union-level approval is obtained, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said.

The fish and prawn farming project falls under a broader Breezing Zones Master Plan, which allocates land specifically for aquaculture use. 

“The master plan will require Union-level permission to proceed,” said U Win Kyaing, Secretary General of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF). The plan includes investments in modern packaging and cold storage facilities, which will be used for export purposes. 

“The fisheries sector is one of the most crucial sectors of the economy. Therefore, we are now preparing almost 10,000 acres of land near Twante township for fisheries development. Once established within three years, the fisheries sector will be able to contribute to the country’s GDP by creating job and export opportunities,’’ said U Phyo Min Thein.

Some 10,000 acres of land near Twante township in Yangon Region will be cleared for the farming of fish and prawns once Union-level approval is obtained, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said.

The fish and prawn farming project falls under a broader Breezing Zones Master Plan, which allocates land specifically for aquaculture use. 

“The master plan will require Union-level permission to proceed,” said U Win Kyaing, Secretary General of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF). The plan includes investments in modern packaging and cold storage facilities, which will be used for export purposes. 

“The fisheries sector is one of the most crucial sectors of the economy. Therefore, we are now preparing almost 10,000 acres of land near Twante township for fisheries development. Once established within three years, the fisheries sector will be able to contribute to the country’s GDP by creating job and export opportunities,’’ said U Phyo Min Thein.

Once approved, the new breeding zones are expected to become a model for the sector. U Phyo Min Thein added that Yangon will work closely with the MFF to raise quality and efficiency standards at the new breeding zones, enabling farmers to earn more. 

The Yangon government will also work to improve transport and access to the new breeding zones to facilitate exports. Currently, there are 40,000 legal aquaculture farms in Yangon. 

The move comes a month after the dialogues for the drafting of a National Aquaculture Development Plan (NADP) commenced in Nay Pyi Taw. 

The plan aims to set out long term objectives towards developing a national aquaculture industry at a time when fishery production derived from the wild is depleting fast due to overfishing and pollution. 

However, Myanmar still enjoys a 3,000-mile coastline and several large estuarine delta systems, giving rise to 120,000 acres of land area which is suitable for aquaculture cultivation, according to the Department of Fisheries. 

In Myanmar, the export value of fish and prawns is now around $650 million and $700 million, according to government data. Myanmar exports about 60,000 tonnes of fisheries to around 40 countries annually. At least a third, or 20,000 tonnes, is usually exported to Saudi Arabia.

Last month, Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended fishing imports from Myanmar, according to the MFF.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/new-breeding-zones-yangon-pending-union-level-approval.html )

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