Type of fisheries in Myanmar is determined by nature of catch. Fresh Water Fisheries consists of (a) fish culture, (b) leasable fisheries, and (c) open fisheries. Marine Fisheries include (a) in-shore fishery and (b) offshore fishery. Freshwater fisheries are mainly of the nature of flood fisheries made possible through vast river systems and heavy rainfall. There are also leasable fisheries, which cover a vast area. Fish culture operations are at the same time undertaken extensively in ponds, lakes and reservoirs.

     Aquaculture played a minor role in our fisheries industry till 1989. Only three thousand hectares of fishponds were established at the time. However, due to the encouragement and support by the Government through the Law Relating to Aquaculture, the aquaculture industry has now expanded to over ninety thousands acres of fishponds.

     The Government of Myanmar, has thus encouraged the expansion of aquaculture through proper management so as not to cause environmental degradation. Intensive breeding, improper use of chemicals, destruction of mangroves and other fish habitats, discharge of untreated wastes etc. are considered grave offences, and are dealt with accordingly.

Fingerlings Production (DOF)

     The Department of Fisheries has been releasing twelve species of freshwater fingerlings into lakes, reservoirs and open natural waters to increase the national fish stock and to maintain a sound balance and fauna.

Production of fish - Production, processing and marketing of all fishery / fishery related activities is carried out by the private sector. All state owned fishing vessels, carrier vessels, ice plants, processing plants, cold stores, fish meal plants, dehydration plants etc. are sold or leased to the private sector and the Government and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries encourages and support the expansion, and the role of the private sector. This resulted in increase of production, increase in exports and consequently, increase in state revenue. The following table shows the production of fish, which includes prawn, shrimp, lobster, shark, ray, etc. of the Union of Myanmar, in conjunction with export.

     The Union of Myanmar enacted the "Territorial Sea And Maritime Zone Law" on 9 April 1977 and the law clearly defined the Baselines (straight lines drawn between fixed points on the mainland, on islands or rocks officially recognized by Myanmar as its territory. Schedules of such points are indicated in the Law). The Territorial Sea (extending twelve nautical miles from the baselines). The Continental Shelf (extending two hundred nautical miles from the baselines) and the Exclusive Economic Zone in which the zone area covers a distance of two hundred nautical miles from the baselines.

     Myanmar has a long coastline of 2832 kilometers. The total area of swamps along the coast is about 0.5 million hectares which provides a very good basis for the development of shrimps and prawn culture. The continental shelf covers 228,781 sq., kilometers and Myanmar's exculsive economic zone (E.E.Z) is 486,000 sq., kilometers wide. According to surveys and research undertaken in marine fisheries, the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) of the Union of Myanmar is estimated at about 1.05 million metric tons per year.

     At present, only fourteen percent of the total production could be exported due to insufficient number of processing facilities, ice plants, cold stores etc. Although the government still manages some demonstration farms and hatcheries for extension service, the main infrastructures in the fishery industries are managed and operated by private entrepreneurs. In other words, there is no State owned institution competing with the private sector in fishery and fishery related operations. There are about (646) species of fish in Myanmar's Marine Fishery Waters and most of the exported products come from this source.

     Myanmar's fishery industry is still growing and with a huge potential, great diversity in aquatic resources, promising prospects, well-defined disciplines and most of all, a clean natural environment. There are also no unpleasant socio-economic consequences of environmental problems in Myanmar Fisheries Waters.
Although Myanmar fishery resources are not yet threatened, precautions has already been taken to prevent degradation of habitats, contamination and pollution, over exploitation of resources, depletion of stocks and in particular, the deterioration of our fishery industry.

     The Laws enacted for fishery production and protection include the Law Relating to Fishing Rights of Foreign Fishing Vessels of 1989, the Law relating to Aquaculture of 1989, the Myanmar Marine Fisheries Law of 1990 and the Freshwater Fisheries Law of 1991.

The main salient features of these laws relating to environment are-