February 21, 2008

Aquaculture farms in China's Zhanjiang severely affected by cold weather

According to the Ocean and Fishery Bureau of southern China's Guangdong province, many cage-farmed fish, shrimps and shellfish in Zhanjiang, which is a major aquaculture production region in the province, had succumbed to the low temperature that hit the region in the past month.

Zhanjiang's usually mild winter temperatures had made it a favoured location for aquaculture production. The recent onset of low temperatures had caught aquaculture operators there by surprise. Many were ill-prepared to cope with it.

At present, more than 26,000 hectares of aquaculture farming area in Zhanjiang had been affected by the inclement weather. Over 67,000 tonnes of farmed fish and shrimps were frozen to death, translating into economic losses in excess of RMB800 million.

RMB1=US$0.1400 (Feb 21)