The weather has also affected the ferry business, with the number of people willing to brave the waves dropping by half.
At the fish pier at Rassada Port this morning (May 21) there were almost no fish being landed after weathermen warned that winds were rising, driving waves to heights of two metres.
The prices for anchovies has doubled from B10 a kilo to B20. Indian mackerel, which previously sold for B55-70 a kilo is now B80-100, and mackerel has gone from B25-35 to B40-60 a kilo.
The price of prawns has risen, too, but not because of weather conditions, because most supplies come from farms on land. These have been devastated recently by early mortality syndrome (EMS), which caused mass deaths in prawn ponds.
The cause was a mystery until scientists published research just two weeks ago identifying the cause – which gives hope that a cure may not be far behind. In the meantime, average prawn prices have doubled for B120 to B240 a kilo.
Karok Peripas of the Fisheries Department said, “Winds out at sea are strong right now so the fishing boats are staying in port. The skippers are keeping a sharp eye on the weather, however; as soon as they detect an improvement they will set sail.”
The ferries are still running but with far fewer passengers. Santi Ponyemsan, an employee of the Chao Koh Group, said there was nothing unusual in this. “It is the low season. Our ferry can carry up to 1,000 people a day but right now we are running at about 500 – which is still better than last year.
“Safety is a priority, with crews insisting that all passengers must wear life jackets.”