A total of 21 cold storage plants are preparing to export farmed freshwater fish to Saudi Arabia, according to the Department of Fisheries.
If Myanmar’s farmed freshwater fish is exported to Saudi Arabia, it will only be accepted if it has an internationally recognized certificate, Best Aquaculture Practice.
The 21 plants have sent Saudi Arabia a report on their compliance with Best Aquaculture Practices, and are currently planning to present the latest situation regarding fish diseases in Myanmar, said U Myint Zin Htoo, deputy director-general of the department.
It is learnt that fish from integrated farming of fish, poultry and pig are not accepted by Saudi Arabia.
Best Fish Farming Practice is a practice that ensure that aquatic animals are raised without impacting the environment in compliance with international food safety standards and regulations.
Currently, Myanmar regularly exports wild freshwater and saltwater fish to Saudi Arabia earning an annual export revenue of about US$50 million. Exporters estimate that if farmed freshwater fish can be exported, it will earn up to US$100 million.
Myanmar exports fish, shrimp, crabs and other aquatic products to 40 other countries including Japan, China, Thailand and European and other countries. The exported aquatic products include more than 20 types of fish such as Ilish, barramundi, puntius chola, labeo rohita and Gagata gagata.
