Large volumes of freshwater fish have been arriving at Shwe Padauk Fish Market in Hline Township, Yangon Region, in recent days, resulting in lower fish prices and making purchases more affordable for consumers, according to sources.
Fish farmers in Nyaungdon, Pantanaw, Ngathainggyoung, Kyonpyaw and other fish-farming townships in Ayeyawady Region, as well as Twantay and Htantabin townships in Yangon Region, have been harvesting and selling fish from their ponds as a precautionary measure against flooding.
“Fish from Ayeyawady Region have been arriving at the fish market in large quantities for the past four or five days. More than 100 truckloads are arriving every day. If each truck is calculated at 3,000 viss, more than 300,000 viss of fish are arriving daily. Some trucks carry as much as 5,000 viss. Although the fish are not yet of marketable size, farmers are catching and selling them at their current size because if the ponds are submerged and the fish are lost, they will receive nothing. They are harvesting the ponds and sending the fish to the market to minimize their losses, even though they do not make a profit. The large supply has caused fish prices to fall, which is beneficial for consumers,” said Vice-Chair U Aye Ko of the Market Development Committee of the Shwe Padauk Fish Market.
Fish from aquaculture ponds have been arriving at the Shwe Padauk Fish Market daily since 3 August. Previously, more than 200,000 viss of fish arrived at the market, whereas more than 300,000 to around 400,000 viss have been arriving this week. Although the prices of fish suitable for export and shipment to cold-storage facilities have not declined, fish that do not meet export-market requirements are being distributed and sold in the domestic market, resulting in lower prices at wholesale fish dealers at the Shwe Padauk Fish Market.
Fish meal was previously sold for K9,000 to K10,000 per viss but is now being sold at K7,500 per viss, although demand remains low. Fish prices have generally fallen by an average of K1,000 per viss.
Aquatic-product business operators expect that the continuous inflow of fish from Ayeyawady Region this month could result in lower fish supplies during the open season and potentially higher fish prices.
As heavy rains have continued in Ayeyawady, Yangon and Bago regions in recent days, fish farmers in Ayeyawady and Yangon regions, which have previously experienced the flooding of fish ponds, are harvesting and selling their fish to prevent investment losses, reduce feed costs and take precautionary measures against natural disasters. Although they may not make profits, the measure is helping them minimize potential losses.
The Shwe Padauk Fish Market receives more than 30 varieties of freshwater fish.
Thitsa (MNA)/KTZH
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