To commemorate World Fish Migration Day, a panel discussion was held in Bago, Myanmar and virtually on Zoom, to raise awareness on the importance of free-flowing rivers for productive fisheries with decision makers, civic society organizations and development organizations within Myanmar.

Date: Saturday, 24 October 2020

Time: 10:00 AM -12:00 PM (GMT+6.3) / 11:30 AM -13:30 PM (UTC+8)

Stay tuned for the recording link

Myanmar’s magnificent Ayeyarwady, (including its tributary the Chindwin) and Thanlwin are the only remaining very long (+1000 km) free-flowing rivers in all of tropical Asia. The country also boasts many medium and long free-flowing rivers of exceptional beauty, productivity, and biodiversity. Not only are these rivers home to endemic or rare species such as the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin, but they also sustain the lives of millions of people and are Myanmar’s natural and cultural heritage. 

Freshwater fish – being it through fisheries, small scale aquaculture and especially subsistence fisheries – play an enormously important role for health and nutrition in Myanmar, with 2/3 of animal protein originating from fish.

The free-flowing rivers of Myanmar are especially important in the context of migratory fish. While most fish migrate to some extent, the actual migratory patterns of Myanmar’s fish species are vastly unknown. Initial and not yet well-known research on two economic import species have shown that in Myanmar fish travel hundreds (Hilsa Shad; Tenualosa ilisha) or even thousands (Burmese catfish; Pangasius myanmar) of kilometres.

This event had brought together fish specialists, development specialists, civil society representatives, decision makers, civic society organizations and development organizations within Myanmar to explore the migratory patterns of Myanmar’s fish species and to discuss the importance of free-flowing rivers and dams in ensuring sustainable, resilient and inclusive aquatic food systems for the livelihoods of local communities.

For more information, visit the official Department of Fisheries website or contact the WWF Myanmar. Watch the World Fish Migration Day via Youtube and join the conversation with the Voices for Rivers via Facebook.