The New light of Myanmar
Wednesday, 13 June, 2001

Fish for all

Myanmar in Southeast Asia is situated within the tropics, facing the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman sea. Our motherland, Myanmar located between 10¡ N longitude and 28¡ N longitude and between 92¡ E latitude and 101¡ E latitude. It has a long coastline approximately 1800 kmÑ and possesses fauna and flora of unusual diversity. There are three main river systems Aye-yawady-Chindwin, Sittoung and Salween. The tributaries of these rivers form the major freshwater fishing area in our country.

The Ayeyawady is the country's economic lifeline and major transportation system, connecting Yangon with Mandalay in the central area. It originates from the province of Yunnan in southwest China, flows about 2150 km from north to south in Myanmar and empties into the Andaman sea through a 31,000sq km deltaic alluvial plain much of which is flooded seasonally. It is the main contributor of 85% of aquaculture production. Inland fisheries are based mainly on extended seasonally inundated flood-plains. Such flood plains are estimated to form a water surface of about 6 million has for a period of 4-5 months a year, and produced about (103 t) fish per annum.

The fisheries sector is of a considerable importance for Myanmar's economy, as fish constitute a major source of animal protein in the diet of the people and also represent the fourth largest foreign exchange earner after timber, minerals and rice.

Fish farming is a popular and very important economic activity in our country. Now, Red Tilapia (Nga-Shwe-Ni) is the most important fish cultured in Myanmar. It is a popular eating fish, is easily cultured a fast grower and acceptable as a source of food by all communities in the country. This fish is cultured in fish ponds, floating fish cages and also in the dishes. Most farmers employ the extensive farming method where both stocking rate and production is low and does not necessitate the use of high skills and capital, more intensive farming methods are employed.

The Red Tilapia ( Oreochromis SPP) is cultured intensively at a high density. The strain which is cultured originated from Taiwan. Production is estimated at 20 tonnes per hectare per year (pond area).

This project has attracted the attention of a lot of both local and foreign tourists who visit the farm to observe the various activities there.

To meet the demands of consumers, these fishes are grown in ponds, lakes, streams, dams and rivulets. Nowever, modern technologies are still necessary to rear and cultured them for better production, better growth with cheaper investments. Therefore, many experiments are conducted and research works are still going on.

The first research in Myanmar was conducted by Nyan Taw (1978) on the comparative account of Tilapia Mossambica and Tilapia nilotica.

Again, Zaw Win Myint (1981) studied on the growth rate of Tilapia aurea comparing the growth rate between male and female fishes.

Than Kyaw Toe (1994) studied the anatomy of Oreochromis mossambica and the growth rate of juvenile fishes in Twantay.

Thida Shwe (1995) studied the relationship between Cyanobacteria and Tilapia SPP. Sein Sein Thein (1996) studied the relationship of three different types of feed to that of the growth of Tilapia. The experiments were conducted in ponds and rice field. She observed that growth rate is high in well prepared supplementary food and high yield of standing crop after a period of four months in Yangon environs. 

Yee Yee Win (1996) studied on a comparative account of production of monosex fry of Oreochromis mossambica and Oreochromis nilotica in Maw-lamyein.

War War Than (1997) studied on the growth rate and survival rate of Tilapia mossambica and Tilapia nilotica in Mingaladon Township.

Inland fisheries production continues to come largely from the river system of the country. To enhance the natural productivity of the fresh water fisheries, Department of Fisheries conducted a programme of annual stocking of natural water bodies and reservoirs.

Pond fish culture (mainly carps ) is also an important component of the Myanmar's fisheries, and is a very old practice. In Myanmar Rice-cum-fish culture has been conducted with Tilapia, snake head common carps and cat fish.

The rice-cum-fish culture of cat fish carried out at Ka-largyi-gone village in Hmawby township in 1996. This work reveals that the Semi-intensive culture technique provide farmers with a higher cat fish production. The productivity was found to increase approximately 300-400 kg/ha where as the usual productivity in traditional practice is not more then 200 kg/ha. The gross profit was more than 90 percent when the culture period was only about four months. Experience in semi-intensive practice in rice-cum-fish culture could help farmers to be more systematic and further develop the intensive culture techniques which contribute towards higher productivity. In traditional cat fish farming, the production is only 200kg/ha. Most of the existing traditional cat fish ponds are large, irregular in shape and relatively shallow. These ponds could be easily improved by renovation, that is make them regular in shape, sufficiently deep and installing inlet and outlet gates to facilitate exchange through drainage canals. Cat fish meat is high in protein and has an excellent flavour. Cat fish are well suited for intensive culture.

Cat fish may be grown on land that will produce few, if any or other crops. Cat fish farming can produce a high rate of return on investment. This information encourage the farmers to cultivate the cat fishes in their fields during the paddy growing seasons in order to achieve extra income. The Department of Fisheries introduced Pangasius sutchi from Thailand to Myanmar in 1994, now it has been reared in pond in Myanmar.( Yo-da-ya-Nga-tan) or Pangasius sutchi can live for long time out of water or in the water with oxygen content as cat fish (Nga-khu). These silurid cat fish (Yo-da-ya Nga-tan) feed on worms, insects and shrimp, but since they prefer to eat decayed protein food they are sometimes classified as scavengers. The fish always take artificial feed near the water surface. It is very fond of their ability to survive in all kinds of water, the small area required for their culture, and because their market price is always higher than that of other freshwater fish.

At present, research work on all phases of fish culture must be carried out at a rapid pace in our country to cope with increasing human need. This will eventually lead to the improvement of the standard of living of farmers in the region and produce more fish for all nations of South East Asia. In South East Asia fish is a staple food. Scholars from academic field and departments of fisheries from South East Asian countries are especially interested in aquaculture. Therefore a proper technical expertise is essential for the economic growth. Today, under the guidance of Ministry of Education and Ministry of Livestock Breeding & Fisheries need to conduct more research work in aquaculture to obtain information for our people. The role of fish culture in the nutrition and economy of developing countries is recognized around the world, pond fish culture is widely practised in Asia.

Author : SeinSein Thein ( Dagon University )