The Shwepadauk Fish Market, a distribution hub in Yangon, receives daily entry of freshwater and saltwater fishery products and operates distributions for local consumption and export.
The Ayeyawady Region is the leader in freshwater product farming among the three regions, and the market receives about 30 fishery products including rohu and striped catfish weighing about 300,000 visses per day. The freshwater products are transported to the market via land route rather than sea route. The freshwater products from the three regions are mainly exported to European and Middle East countries.
“In early winter, there is entry of freshwater and saltwater products. There are about 100 trucks in one week, and it is nearly 300,000 visses a day. The local freshwater fish farmers can make profits only when there is demand from foreigners. The small-size fish are distributed to the local markets and the marketable ones are exported.
The entry of freshwater fish has been high recently. The fish farmers cannot expand the breeding due to the changing market and high production costs. However, they breed for local consumption and export as much as they can. The marine products play a key role in consumption at cheap prices, and so all are urged to work together to develop the maritime products,” said U Aye Ko, chairman of the Shwepadauk Fish Market development committee.
The market receives over 20 different types of saltwater products including Ikan Batu, peter, barramundi, swamp barb, Batomorphi, cuttlefish, squid, sea tiger prawn and flower prawn via 10 jetties, weighing over 100,000 visses. Meanwhile, about 300,000 visses of saltwater products were distributed to the market when fish and prawn capture was allowed in Rakhine State.
“The Shwepadauk Fish Market sees the entry of fish and prawns from the seas, and the transactions are normal. In addition to local consumption, the large-size robin fish, white and black silver pomfret, yellow croaker, snapper, swamp barb, yellow pike conger, sea tiger prawn, flower prawn and gold prawn are mostly exported. The marine products are exported to China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, and a low amount to Singapore. The Chinese suppliers purchase the saltwater products and store them in cold storage,” said Daw Tin Nwe, a saltwater fishery entrepreneur.
The Yangon fish market receives plenty of freshwater and saltwater aquatic products, and freshwater products are abundant in early winter. When the freshwater breeding and fishing areas in the sea decline, it can affect the entry of marine products, the breeders and fishing boat owners suggested.
The Shwepadauk Fish Market is packed with sellers and buyers from 3 am to 6 am, and the distribution processes run after 6 am. The cleanliness activities are operated afternoon, and the market closes at 7 pm.