With the increase of the price of Hilsa in the global market Myanmar fish farmers are planning to export the fish as part of its marine product export, according to sources from the Myanmar Fishery Federation (MFF).
“With regards to our exported products, Hilsa was once the second highest earner in the fishing market after prawn. As we have already had purchasers from abroad and a presence in the global market, we need to continue the Hilsa culture,” said U Hnin Oo, vice chairman of MFF.
As part of the drive to increase the product’s export capability, three Norwegian experts will visit Myanmar as part of a two-year project to conserve resources and breed the Hilsa fish at a sustainable level.
Currently, Hilsa is a rare product in the Indian market and this creates an opportunity for Myanmar businesspeople, another MFF source said.
Last year, the estimated amount of Hilsa export was over 100,000 tonnes and fetched about $29 million.
Myanmar Hilsa is exported to 29 countries worldwide, with 17 in Asia, six each in the Middle East and Europe.
Hilsa is currently among the top five fish export products in Myanmar but was previously at the top.
