Mass deaths of lobsters have been reported in the coastal province of Phu Yen in Vietnam with farmers losing hundreds of billions of dong (tens of millions of US dollars), according to a report by Dtinews.

 

The phenomenon was explained as the result of weather change.

 

One farmer, named Tran Thi No, was reported to have lost nearly 800 lobsters raised in 10 cages at her farm.

 

At a farm near Phuoc Ly beach, Nguyen Thanh Quang also lost over 1,000 lobsters in 15 cages in just over a week, Dtinews reported on Monday, May 29.

 

According to Song Cau District People's Committee, there are over 1,100 lobster farms in the area with over 13,300 cages. Thus, the total losses from this mass deaths can run up to hundreds of billions of dong.

 

The vice director of the Song Cau District's Animal Husbandry Department, Nguyen Huu Dai, said the lobster deaths were caused by a sudden weather change, when heavy rains occurred after a long heat wave.

 

"The rains suddenly changed the saline level and caused a lack of oxygen in water," Dai was quoted as saying.

 

"Another reason is that lobsters are densely raised, which resulted in water pollution", he added.

 

In Xuan Phuong ward, many farmers collected and sold dead lobsters.

 

"We can only sell those that have just died and look still fresh," farmer Pham Canh said, according to the Dtinews report.