32 hybrid kerapu breeders suffer RM1mil losses due to floods

 

Ikan Laguna Semerak Breeders Association chairman Mustapa Bakar (right) and other breeders showing the dead ikan kerapu in Pasir Puteh. (Bernama pic)

PASIR PUTEH: Thirty-two hybrid grouper farmers in Laguna Semerak here have suffered losses of more than RM1 million after their fish died over the last four days due to floodwaters overflowing into the lagoon.

Ikan Laguna Semerak Breeders Association chairman Mustapa Bakar said the incident was believed to have occurred when the water overflowed excessively into the lagoon area.

He said Laguna Semerak has 2,100 fish cages.

“Thousands of farmed hybrid groupers have been dying every day over the past four days.

“The groupers were meant to be sold in Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Singapore at RM60 per kg,” he told reporters here today.

Mustapa said the fish was meant to be harvested next February in conjunction with the Chinese New Year.

A young breeder, Wan Ahmad Taufik Wan Shukri, 24, said he suffered losses of more than RM200,000 after a large number of the 18,000 fish being bred in his cages died.

“Now, there are only about 4,000 to 5,000 of the fish species left,” he said. - FMT