BURMA: 40 PERCENT PRODUCTION CUT REDUCES FISHERIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 RANGOON 000591 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, OES, EEB/TPP DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID/OFDA BANGKOK FOR USAID, ECON, USDA/FAS, REO OFFICE ROME FOR FAO PARIS FOR FAS/AG MINISTER COUNSELOR E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018 TAGS: EAID BM SENV ECON PGOV ETRD EFIS SUBJECT: BURMA: 40 PERCENT PRODUCTION CUT REDUCES FISHERIES EXPORTS REF: A. RANGOON 118 ¶B. RANGOON 579 ¶C. RANGOON 572 Classified By: Economic Officer Samantha A. Carl-Yoder for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Cyclone Nargis severely damaged Burma,s fisheries sector, destroying the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen and aquaculture. Despite widespread damage, there are no indications that there will be a domestic shortage of freshwater fish and fish products, critical elements of the Burmese diet. However, marine product exports, accounting for approximately six percent of total exports annually and nine percent of GDP, will be adversely affected. With our sources anticipating 40 percent less fisheries production for FY 2008-09, the impact of Cyclone Nargis on Burma,s economy will likely be significant. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Burma,s fishing industry has accounted for approximately six percent of Burma,s exports annually since 2005 (Reftel A),and approximately nine percent of Burma,s annual GDP (according to the FAO). In FY 2007-08, Burma fishing production amounted to $650 million, of which $366 million was exported. Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) First Secretary Hniu Oo reported that the GOB raised its fisheries production target for FY 2008-09 to $850 million. The Irrawaddy Delta region (including Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions) produces close to 50 percent of both freshwater and marine products in Burma. However, the damage Cyclone Nargis has wrought on the fishing sector will result in an estimated 40 percent shortfall of this target, with exported products more heavily affected than domestically consumed products. Small-scale Fishing Hurt, but Domestic Markets OK -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Burmese prefer to eat freshwater fish, leaving large quantities of marine products free for export. While some sources report less variety and reduced availability of fish in Rangoon,s markets, there is no evidence of a pending domestic fish shortage. In addition to local consumption preferences, Burmese have been reluctant to eat fish from the Irrawaddy delta,s waterways, where so many people died. This weakened demand and the abundance of inland fisheries in other regions of Burma have helped maintain a stable domestic fish market. According to officials at the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, the MFF, and private companies, the storm will not have long-term affects on the domestic fish market. Fisheries Department Deputy Director General Khin Kolay explained that with four main river systems with a combined distance of nearly 6,000 kilometers, and 2,832 kilometers of coastline, Burma would be able to produce enough fish to meet domestic demand. ¶4. (SBU) Nonetheless, officials told us the GOB is assisting small-scale fishermen,s recovery. Khin Kolay said that the GOB planned to construct 9,000 small fishing boats for Irrawaddy fishermen. However, Hniu Oo told us that only ten percent of the promised 9,000 boats have been built so far. Despite newspaper articles trumpeting the construction of fiberglass boats by the Naval Engineering Corp, only 30 prototypes have been built, he said. The other boats, averaging 21 feet in length, were made of wood. MFF Deputy Director General Han Tun said about half of the boats would have Chinese-made engines. However, the wood for these boats required up to three months drying time, which was causing delays, he noted. On June 28, the GOB provided boats to RANGOON 00000591 002 OF 004 fishermen in highly publicized hand-over ceremonies in Labutta, Bogalay, and Hainggyi. During a four-day trip to ten villages in Labutta and Ngapudaw Townships (Reftel B),we only saw one new boat, and no fishermen reported receiving new boats or gear. Aquaculture Damage Hurts Exports -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The commercial fishing industry survived the storm with the loss of only four irreparable commercial trawlers (Reftel C). However, the loss of 36,000 acres of shrimp production, Burma,s leading exportable marine product, caused Khin Kolay to anticipate significant reductions to Burma,s marine product exports for FY 2008-09. Additional conversations with the MFF officers and private businessmen emphasized that the long-term recovery of the fisheries sector depended on the recovery of the aquaculture sector. Having suffered significant damage to shrimp and fish hatcheries and farms (Reftel C),most officials and businessmen surveyed expected marine product exports to be significantly lower for FY 2008-09. ¶6. (SBU) In an effort to help rebuild hatcheries, the semi-private Myanmar Livestock, Breeding and Fisheries Development Bank is providing 50,000 kyat loans (approximately $42) per acre to commercial hatcheries and fish and shrimp farms at 17 percent interest. Since most hatcheries are still repaying their first loans, the need to repurchase stock and repair facilities means that many now face the prospect of a double mortgage. While this will burden commercial enterprises, they will recover more quickly than the small-scale fish and shrimp farms that do not have the same options. Hniu Oo said that he expected aquaculture to recover within one and a half years. Absent assistance, small-scale fish and prawn farmers fear that they may need as much as five years to fully recover their aquaculture farms (Reftel C). The Official View -------------- ¶7. (C) Given the cyclone,s impact on fisheries, Hniu Oo opined that fisheries production for FY 2008-09 would be 40 percent below the FY 2008-09 target, amounting to approximately $500 million, or a 20 percent reduction from FY 2007-08 production. Han Tun privately agreed with this estimate, saying that two months of lost production plus the time needed to recover would result in a 20 percent reduction in fisheries production this year versus last year. Khin Kolay told us that FY 2008-09 marine product exports would be significantly reduced, by as much as 50 percent, specifically due to severe losses in the saltwater shrimp industry. ¶8. (C) To help gain a clearer picture of Nargis-related damage to the fisheries sector, the MFF conducted a fisheries-specific survey covering six to eight townships in Irrawaddy Division and two to five townships in Rangoon Division. Meeting with over 3,000 fishermen, volunteers catalogued quantities and types of boats and equipment lost in each village. While the MFF has collected and is now analyzing the information, Hniu Oo told us that before the assessment can be publicized, the conclusions will need to be &approved by the authorities.8 Although media reports indicated that the assessment results would be released shortly, Han Tun told us that it would be at least two weeks before the assessment is published. Less optimistically, Hniu Oo opined that a public version of the assessment would be available sometime within the next three months. RANGOON 00000591 003 OF 004 A View from the Private Side -------------- ¶9. (C) During a visit to Advanced Seafood Industries Company in the Dagon Seikken Industrial Zone in Rangoon, Executive Director Chia Wing Huat estimated that the supply of exportable marine products from Irrawaddy Division this year would be much as 60 percent below last year,s levels. He told us that the biggest problems were the loss of fishermen and the two and a half month fishing hiatus that followed the cyclone. Mr. Chia anticipated an additional four to five months of reduced catches before the industry would begin to recover in October and November. Declining to reveal precisely how badly this would hurt Advanced Seafood Industries Company,s profits, Mr. Chia anticipated that this year the Irrawaddy region would produce 60 percent less marine exports than in FY 2007-08, and that Burma,s total fisheries exports would be 20 percent lower than in FY 2007-08. Mr. Chia did note one positive development, saying that his company, which also imports fishing equipment, was importing and selling more equipment to meet the demand of fisheries rehabilitation efforts. ¶10. (C) During a July 23 visit to the Khoo and Associates shrimp hatchery near Insein, workers told us that while the freshwater shrimp hatcheries were damaged during the cyclone, they expected to be back up and running in time for the February/March season. Freshwater shrimp are produced primarily for domestic consumption; Myanmar Shrimp Association official Khin Maung Than told us he had no doubt that there would be enough freshwater shrimp to meet domestic demand. However, the saltwater shrimp sector, produced primarily for export, suffers from higher costs and lower prices. Khin Maung Than told us that the GOB,s 10 percent export tax had negatively affected saltwater shrimp production. Furthermore, the 50,000 kyat loans to hatcheries and farms did not cover the costs of saltwater shrimp hatcheries, which were approximately 200,000 kyat per acre ($170) due to higher prices for spawning stocks and imported feed. Khin Maung Than opined that, unless the government exempted saltwater shrimp from export taxes, the saltwater shrimp export industry may not recover at all as the additional costs associated with post-Nargis reconstruction removed any chance of making a profit. ¶11. (SBU) Ref A noted that many fishermen in the cyclone-affected areas have resorted to crabbing as a way to survive. However, the increase in crab supply has driven down the cost of crabs domestically, from between 2,000 to 3,000 kyat ($1.65 to $2.50) per viss to 1,300 kyat ($1.10) per viss. (Note. A &viss8 is a local unit of measure equivalent to 3.6 lbs. End Note.) Villagers in Ngapudaw Township indicated that the price for one viss of crabs in Chaung Wa was even lower, with earnings just covering households, daily rice costs. Local media sources reported that the price of crabs in cross border trade with China has fallen from $2,100-$2,400 per ton to $1,410. These market adjustments put further pressure on fishermen trying to recover their livelihoods. This is especially true in the Burmese fishing sector where domestic prices are set on a monthly basis by the Fisheries Department regardless of world prices. Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) While domestic fish and shrimp supplies continue to stabilize, this year,s expected 40 percent shortfall in RANGOON 00000591 004 OF 004 fisheries production will severely hurt marine product exports and shrink government revenues for FY 2008-09. The government,s power to set domestic marine product prices, plus the imposition of a 10 percent export tax, prevents Burmese fishermen from benefiting from price fluctuations in the global market. In yet another example of the Than Shwe regime,s economic short-sightedness, artificially fixed prices and high export taxes are undermining fishermen,s attempts to rebuild their livelihoods. VILLAROSA