Drought Killing Off Krabi Prawn Industry

[george]

Drought killing off Krabi prawn industry

KRABI: -- Severe drought in Thailand's southern resort province of Krabi is rapidly strangulating the Krabi white prawn industry, with prawn farmers losing Bt45 million a month in lost stock.

According to Mr. Pokklong Kertsuk, head of the Krabi Prawn Farmers Association, around a third of all the province's prawn farmers are experiencing hardship as a result of this year's drought.

White prawns, the staple of the province's prawn farming sector, are refusing to eat, failing to grow and are displaying signs of stress due to the huge difference between daytime and night time water temperatures.

Several prawn farmers have simply shut up their shops, and already the province is selling 300 fewer tonnes of prawns a month than normal, leading to losses of Bt45 million.

As Mr. Manit Khamkul, head of the Krabi Fisheries Association, explains, the problem is not confined to prawn farmers.

Farmers of fish and shellfish, including clams, are experiencing similar problems.

Although the provincial fisheries office has promised to find a solution, it could come too late.

--TNA 2005-02-18