October 30, 2019

Myanmar aims to increase aquaculture exports to US$728 million in 2020

The Department of Fisheries will expand the adoption of the Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) guidelines across its aquaculture industry to increase exports and ensure food safety, reported Myanmar Times.

Aquaculture exports are under the purview of the Department of Fisheries and Myanmar Fisheries Federation. The country expects to increase aquaculture exports to US$728 million, up from US$712.7 million made in 2018.

GAqP discussions were held with the department and fish breeders, university specialists, experts from Germany and standards technical committee officials. 

U Myint Zin Htoo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Fisheries said aquaculture production according to GAqP guidelines are more acceptable for export to international markets. He added that ASEAN nations (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam) are currently following GAqP.

Myanmar exported more than 54,000 tonnes of fish, prawns and aquaculture products last year. The country currently exports aquaculture products to more than 40 countries.

Currently, GAqP certification has been awarded to only eight companies and 49 fish farms covering 4,000 hectares of aquaculture farming. Myanmar has about 162,000 hectares of aquaculture farms.

About 20 aquaculture-related factories and workshops in Myanmar are qualified to export to the European Union.

- Myanmar Times