Shrimp farmers in some districts of the Mekong Delta province of Long An are claiming that the water pollution is contributing to the death of more than 50 percent of their shrimp crop.
Pollution is also causing damage to the shrimp crop in Can Duoc and Can Giuoc districts, which covers around 1,890 hectares of shrimp farming, resulting in tens of billions worth of damage.
To date, farmers in the provinces have bred a total of 3,308 hectares of shrimp but have lost more than 50 percent of their crop due to water pollution.
According to the agriculture department in the province, the main reason is that farmers do not comply with hygiene standards and hence shrimps die due to disease.
In related news, the Peoples’ Committee of Long An Province has decided to penalize two private companies for polluting the environment.
Sang Ky Company dealing in electroplates will be fined VND35 million (US$1,750) and Nivl Company will be fined VND350 million ($17,500) for polluting the environment. Both the companies were releasing wastewater that was 10 times higher than the permitted levels and letting out exhaust fumes 5 times higher than permitted levels.