Fish culture in Burma is a new enterprise which is gaining popularity. Although scattered water areas could be made available for fish culture, the number of privately owned ponds is very limited. Further expansion of fish culture requires the construction of new ponds, but in view of the Burmese regulation forbidding construction of ponds on land suitable for paddy culture, one has to seek out land areas which cannot be used for paddy. The Government has included in its program the survey of cultivable areas available for fish culture. In addition, it may be necessary to reclaim swamps especially those which are situated inside cities and towns. The moats in the towns of Mandalay, Toungoo and Pegu could be reclaimed, cleared of weeds and used for fish culture. It is also encouraging that many private individuals are utilizing any little space available on their lands for construction of small ponds for culture of tilapia or major carps. The Directorate of Fisheries may provide necessary advice to fish farmers on this matter.
The percentage of economically valuable species in the catches from the majority of the fry centers does not appear to be very high. Moreover, the total quantity of spawn collected is not adequate to meet the increasing demand for fish seed. Further surveys are necessary to establish new collection centers which will provide a better and larger supply of carp spawn. When better centers are established, those producing small quantities of major carps may be abandoned.
It is also essential for the Government to develop the technique of induced breeding of carps by hormone injections. In fact, successful commercial production of pure fish seed should be able to solve the fish seed problem. It is hoped that with the help of the next fish culture expert, who will assist the Government for two years, enough local officers will be trained to be able to produce millions of fish seed for stocking all inland waters.
In addition, the possibilities of constructing ‘Bundh’ type of ponds for carp breeding could be explored. The topography of the undulating terrain about 38 miles from Rangoon on the Pegu Road and amount of rainfall and catchment area could be studied. If found suitable, an attempt may be made to construct one such pond for experimental carp breeding.
With an enlarged fish culture program it will be necessary to have a composite fish farm self-sufficient in its requirement for fish seed. This farm should have the facilities for induced fish breeding experiments, and a set of nursery, rearing and stocking ponds in addition to marketing ponds and ponds for rearing breeders.
The Government of Burma has two production fish farms under the management of the People's Pearl and Fisheries Board. One of these, the 104-acre Twante Fish Farm, will be extended to 1,000 acres by 1970. This huge farm has a proposal for large-size (mostly 18 acres) stocking ponds and a few marketing ponds but no provision for nursery and rearing ponds. The Board depends on the Directorate of Fisheries for the supply of carp fingerlings. Even now, it is difficult to supply the quantity of proper size fingerlings required for stocking and when the farm grows to a size of 1,000 acres, the requirement of fingerlings for the farm alone would be 3 million, calculated at the stocking rate of 3,000 per acre.
The expert has suggested therefore the construction of an adequate number of nursery and rearing ponds for raising sufficient carp fingerlings for stocking 1,000 acres. As a preliminary project, it would be worthwhile to have one set of nursery and rearing ponds, sufficient to provide stocking materials for 50 acres of stocking pond. A rough calculation of production and survival rates at various stages was made and it was suggested to have one acre of nursery area and four acres of rearing pond for every 50 acres of stocking ponds. One acre of nursery ponds could also be utilized for rearing purposes. After studying the results of production and survival of spawn and fry at various operational stages, a program could be set up for the extension of more sets of nursery and rearing ponds. In order to become self-sufficient in fish seed requirements, the farm should start its own induced fish breeding program and grow enough breeders for the purpose. It would also be necessary to convert a few smaller stocking ponds for maintaining a stock of breeders.
Other small farms could also be made into composite fish farms and used as demonstration areas for the training of the fishery staff, extension workers and fish farmers.
In Burma, the major carp Cirrhina mrigala (Nga-gyin) is the favourite fish and is sold at the highest market price compared to other carps. So there is a tendency to stock more mrigals which often results in their poor growth and less production. The necessity of stocking compatible species in definite proportions should be stressed. Production can be increased by mixed farming, that is stocking with a number of species of fish having different feeding habits.
One of the indigenous carps, Osteobrama (Rohtee) belangeri grows to a fairly big size and seems to be a suitable fish for culture. However, before culturing this species along with major carps, it would be advisable to study its biology, food and feeding habits and rate of growth.
At present, fertilization of ponds is not regularly practised, and it is difficult to suggest any definite methods of fertilization without knowing the quality of the soil and other ecological factors. In the future a program for pond fertilization should be taken up.
Fish farmers in Burma almost invariably feed their fish with artificial food, e.g., rice bran, and it is important to develop a supply of economical and effective artificial food.
There is ample scope for improvement of nursery management practices for obtaining higher production and maximum survival of fry.
(i) Common carp. At present, Burma has three different strains of common carp (Cyprinus carpio): one is indigenous (var. intha), one was imported from Indonesia and one from Israel. Though these strains were introduced several years ago, they have not become very popular.
It is doubtful how well the more domesticated Indonesian strain could thrive in wild waters which are full of predatory fishes. The Israeli strain should prove much better, especially for culture in cold waters at the higher altitudes. However, it should be noted that Burma already possesses a good supply of major carps and concentration on successful culture of these appears to be more advisable than turning attention to Cyprinus carpio at this time.
(ii) Tilapia culture. Tilapia mossambica, though introduced in 1952, do not seem to have established themselves in ponds and other waters, especially in lower Burma, probably because of the presence of predatory species. The fish could be cultured profitably in the dry zone area of upper and central Burma in small domestic ponds and also in cisterns. Fish farmers who are culturing them are reaping quite a good harvest. Besides, the greatest advantage of culturing tilapia in Burma is that even the smallest size fishes would be utilized for the preparation of the fish sauce, Ngapi. Proper culture of this species should be encouraged. The Government should consider establishing tilapia seed distribution centers in upper and central Burma for the distribution of seed to the public.
(iii) Tilapia-cum-Murrel culture. The most common murrel in Burma, Ophiocephalus striatus (Nga-yan), is well liked by the people. It is therefore suggested that a program for tilapia-cum-murrel culture might be initiated. Proper manipulation of stocking rate and number should provide good production of suitably sized tilapia as well as murrels.
(iv) Culture of Chinese carps. The Chinese grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella has great demand because of its ability to control submerged weeds. A consignment of this species was brought by the Government for stocking Inle Lake during 1957. A few of the adult fishes are still being held at the Hlawga Fish Farm. Its introduction is most likely to be a welcome addition to the lot of indigenous species. In case the Government decides to initiate a program of systematic stocking and culture of this species in Inle Lake, the proper technique of rearing and breeding the fish should be developed. The fish culture expert would be in a position to train local workers in the technique of rearing and breeding of the species.
The Government may also explore the possibility of introducing the fast-growing Chinese silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. A small consignment may be cultured at the Hlawga Fish Farm to study its effect on other species before introducing it in other waters.
(v) Paddy-cum-fish culture. The culture of tilapia in the rice fields of Burma was initiated in the year 1955. According to FAO/UN (1957), the preliminary results were rather encouraging but the project was dropped in 1957 because of unsatisfactory results probably due to destruction of the tilapia by predatory fish. Before rejecting the project forever it may be useful to determine the reasons for unsatisfactory results and proceed on the basis of the findings.
At present, there is a dearth of trained personnel. The Directorate of Fisheries has expanded its fish culture section and it is essential that newly recruited personnel should receive proper training in scientific fish culture and fish farm management. The FAO fishery expert who is expected to assist and advise the Government of Burma during 1967–68 would be able, during his period of assignment, to train as many personnel as are available. In addition, it may be necessary to send some staff abroad for further training.
Some of the State agencies also seem to be understaffed, especially the Twante Fish Farm. With further expansion of its area and its technical activities, it will be necessary to increase the staff considerably.
