Myanmar fisheries federation not keen on Thai collaboration

A Thai delegation led by director-general of the Fisheries Department visited Myanmar in June 2012 to submit a proposal for all-round cooperation in the fisheries industry between the two countries. Regarding the proposal, fishery farmers and producers discussed the matter and decided on November 22 that only citizen businessmen should work in the country’s seafood fishery industry and marine research.

“Myanmar should not continue permitting Thailand or other countries to work in the country’s seafood fisheries industry. Only national entrepreneurs should be allowed to work in the industry. And it should end its cooperation in marine research, too. The country should collaborate with more advanced countries. We submitted the results of our discussions to the concerned union ministry to consider," he added.

"Frankly, there are still other things we can’t afford in the research and development of the industry. Thailand is more advanced than us in the industry. They use advanced technology in the industry and export their products all over the world,” he concluded.

“Fishing boats from Thailand officially registered in Myanmar did a lot of illegal fishing in the country’s waters for years. They exploited a lot. Although the two countries share mutual friendship, that’s the truth. We discussed the issue based on these facts,” said one of the officials from the federation.