When was the earliest record of pearl oyster fishery in Myanmar?
5.A. Pearl oyster of Mergui Islands, being well-known since ancient times, fished for in shallow waters by the Salons, the inhabitants of the same islands, who used free-diving method in collecting shells, were put on the market through the medium of Chinese merchants. In 1890 the Government divided Mergui Islands into five maritime zones, putting the shell collection right up at auction. It was then that men started getting engaged in shell collection, using diving apparatus. The first three fishing vessels were from Queensland, Australia.
