A world-class seafood breeding farm will be established in 2018, according Phyo Min Thein, Yangon Chief Minister said. The remark came at the opening ceremony of No. 1 Applied Fish and Prawn Breeding Course held at Thiri Annawa Hall of Myanmar Fisheries Federation in Yangon on November 5. Phyo Min Thein said: We predict that there are about 3.5 million breeders in the fish and prawn sector. For that reason, this sector should be improved, and the breeding of fish and prawns is a valuable use of land. There are about 80,000 acres of breeding farms for fish and prawns in Yangon Region. But out of them, only 40,000 acres are officially established. We need to develop the system of breeding. The sector earned US$605 million from the export of 4.3 million tonnes of fish and prawns in the 2016-2017 financial year. Prawns are more expensive than fish, but the prawn-breeding sector has gone into gradual decline. The breeding sector of fish and prawn needs development in the future. The existing breeding area of 80,000 acres will be upgraded in accord with international norms in 2018, Phyo Min Thein said. There are about 480,000 acres of fish and prawn breeding grounds across the country, but only 108,000 acres have been officially sanctioned by the government.