September 22, 2010

Taiwan's Kaohsiung aquaculture sector gets US$14.84-million damage

Aquaculturists in Kaohsiung County suffered combined total losses of NT$470 million (US$14.84 million) as a result of flooding caused by Typhoon Fanapi, which barrelled across the country Sunday (Sep 19.

According to the county government's Agriculture Department, many of the county's coastal townships, including Yongan, Mituo and Zihguan suffered heavy flooding and financial losses as breeding stock was washed away by floodwater, while other stock died as a result of ensuing power outages. Power supplies to breeding ponds had yet to be restored completely as of Tuesday (Sep 21).

Kaohsiung's aquaculture ponds rely heavily on power to pump oxygen for the fish, and power outages can cause major die-offs, department officials said. The Taiwan Power Company, however, said that electricity would be resumed soon.

Yongan Township suffered the heaviest damage, with the loss of NT$320 million (US$10.15 million)-worth of groupers, sea bass, milk fish and threadfin.

Mituo Township's damage was estimated at NT$100 million (US$3.17 million), while Zihguan Township lost NT$11 million (US$0.35 million), the officials said.

"I have lost everything," said Ho Tse-lian, chairman of the Yongan Area Fishermen's Association, after his 30 hectares of ponds were inundated.