Rain hurting shrimp farms

BANGKOK - Southern shrimp farmers are suffering from the effects of the La Nina weather phenomenon, being forced to buy salt water to keep their businesses afloat.

Sakda Mannantakul, who operates a large shrimp farm, said the salt water in Songkhla Lake was being diluted by the ever-increasing rainfall generated by La Nina.

La Nina is characterised by unusually cold temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. It brings humidity from the sea to the land, leading to a sharp rise in rainfall. Normally, shrimp breeders pump some brackish water from the lake and blend it with fresh water in the shrimp hatchery. But as the lake water was being diluted by the increasing rainfall, breeders must bring in sea water from the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr Sakda said the price of salt water had more than doubled from about 1,200 baht to 3,000 baht for a 15,000-litre load brought in by a 10-wheeler.

The added cost was a burden on the farmers. Some were being pushed out of business. As a result, the shrimp output could drop by up to 50%.

Source: Bangkok Post