Over 7,000 Khulna fish farms affected by Cyclone Yaas

The saline water of tidal waves caused by Cyclone Yaas has washed away 7,094 fish farms including shrimp hatcheries in Khulna, causing a loss of Tk8.43 crore to the farm owners, said Khulna District Fisheries Officer Abu Sayeed.

According to Sayeed, fish farms on 1,545 hectares of land in 24 unions of coastal Koira, Dakop, Paikgachha, Batiaghata and Dumuria upazilas of Khulna have been damaged by the tidal wave caused by cyclone Yaas on Wednesday.

Fish farms in Koira upazila have been most affected, he added.

"This is our initial estimation. After calculating fully, the amount of losses may increase further. The government would provide financial assistance including free supply of fries by listing the fish farmers affected by the cyclone," he added.

According to sources, 156 metric tonnes of white fishes worth Tk4.38 crore and 158.5 metric tonnes of shrimp worth Tk2.28 crore have been washed away in Khulna by saline water of the tidal waves caused by the cyclone.

Moreover, 18 lakh shrimp PL (fries) worth Tk60 lakh; 12 lakh white fish fries worth Tk60 lakh; and, in Koira upazila, crab and kunchia fishes worth Tk60 lakh have been washed away.

The cyclone also caused infrastructural damage worth Tk47 lakh.

Koira upazila has been most affected by the tidal wave in the fisheries sector. In this upazila, 2,100 fish farms including shrimp hatcheries have been washed away, causing Tk5.65 crore initially estimated losses.

However, the amount may increase after the damage is fully calculated, he said.