Govt asks Norwegian vessel to continue marine research

08 Oct 19 - Source: Myanmar Times - Myanmar has asked the Norwegian research vessel RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen to continue its research on the country's seabed and ecosystem, the Department of Fisheries said.

The vessel, which was named after a famous Norwegian explorer, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has visited the country five times on research missions.

In the ship's latest visit last year, the marine experts measured fish resources, water quality and microplastic concentration along Myanmar's coast.

The RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen conducted a month-long survey of the marine ecosystem off Rakhine State as well as Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwady regions.

The Myanmar visit was a part of a three-country mission that also included Sri Lanka and Thailand. Aside from measuring fish resources, the researchers also measured microplastics in the water and microplastic contamination in fish.

RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen project is carried out under the auspices of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Myanmar's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation.

The scientists on the research vessel have not yet released a report of the results of the research they conducted last year, an official said.

U Myint Zin Htoo, deputy director general of the Fisheries Department, said the government is ready to release the results of the research in Myanmar but has agreed to wait until the two other countries are ready release their results.

"The research vessel has made a request to visit for research in 2021, and we are waiting for their reply," he said.

​Source Link: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/govt-asks-norwegian-vessel-continue-marine-research.html