Maritime product exports earn US$204.183 million within 317 days of 2020-2021 FY

Export of over 238,600 tonnes of marine products from Taninthayi Region to Ranong Industriehafen in Thailand earned US$204.183 million during the 317 days up to 13 August of 2020-2021 Financial Year, according to Kawthoung District Fisheries Department.
Fishermen operate fishing works at the Andaman Sea depending on climatic conditions. At present, 725 fishing trawlers from Dawei, Myeik and Kawthoung are at the sea for fishing. More than 1,400 trawlers from over 50 companies in Taninthayi Region are engaging in fishery sector.
The Fisheries Department arranges the regular flow of marine product exportation with the promise of fishing trawlers which have exported marine products to Ranong Industriehafen to pay the relevant tax to the banks when these banks are opened.
A total of 195 fishermen who sent marine products to Ranong marine product brokerage were vaccinated for prevention of COVID-19. Moreover, the fishermen who are going to the sea have been examined for their health conditions. Afterwards, the fishermen IDs are issued to them in line with the prevention, control and treatment of the disease.
Regularly, marine products flow into Yangon market while similar products are exported to Ranong Industriehafen. If a marine product market can be established in Myeik or Kawthoung for cutting the transport charge, control of water resources and earning more foreign exchange, Taninthayi Region will create job opportunities with improvement of socio-economic status of the local people.
“Local fishermen export marine products to Ranong of Thailand. If we can establish a marine product market, economic status of the region will improve. If the government sets up a fish auction market, foreign merchants will purchase the products from Myanmar. So, we can get tax from trading. Local fishermen will have the opportunities to directly send their stocks to the international market. Consequently, tourism industry will be booming. In 2019-2020 FY, Myanmar earned US$252.832 million from export of 296,608 tonnes of marine products. So, we set the target to exceed the export volume in 2020-2021 FY,” said U Thant Zin, Deputy Director of Kawthoung District Fisheries Department. The sea can be seen with many trawlers which are capturing cuttle-fish in October and November on a yearly basis. The Tatmadaw (Navy) seizes trawlers and motor schooners which came from other countries and hands them over to relevant departments. Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department supervises preventive measures for shortage of water resources at Myanmar water territory. In this regard, the department prohibits capturing of fish with poisons, fish mining and use of prohibited fishing equipment.
In August, fishermen from Kawthoung sent marine products weighing ranging from 300 tonnes to over 800 tonnes to Ranong Industriehafen on a daily basis. Myanmar fishermen bagged US$252.832 million from export of 296,608 tonnes of marine products in 2019-2020 Financial Year and US$204.183 million from 1 September to 13 August in 2020-2021 FY. At present, they are striving for earning more foreign exchange from export of marine products in August and September.—Nyein Thu (MNA)/GNLM