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Cleanup Work Continues at Thai Fish Farm

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND (August 26, 2005) - Volunteers have been busy cleaning out sand filters in the hatchery at the fish farm supported by Covenant World Mission as efforts continue to restore operations following torrential rains and flooding in recent days.

The extent of damage is becoming increasingly clear as the water recedes, currently estimated at about $90,000, according to Randy and Cheryl Bevis, Covenant missionaries specializing in fish and hatchery operations. A special fund has been established by World Mission for those interested in making contributions to the reconstruction effort. Donations may be sent to Covenant World Mission, 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625. Gifts should be earmarked for the Chiang Mai Fish Fund.

"We lost most of our broodstock, but we have managed to recapture about an one-eighth of what we had (breeding stock)," writes Randy in an update to supporters of the fish hatchery ministry. "It will take us about seven months to grow out new breeders and get production back up to where we had it. The farmers in our valley that are a part of our nursery project lost their red fingerlings - that totaled about $20,000 in fry and feed investments.

"Our farm had 700,000 fry ready to sell in the next few days before the flood hit, and we had three million fish in sex reversal," he continues. "The biggest loss is our breeders because it takes so long to grow them out and we will be missing that income. Buildings and equipment are okay as staff worked hard to take stuff out of the farm when they saw the water coming over the dikes. They had some time to move feed, pumps, and other equipment to higher ground in the village. Staff are doing a good job of working together."

An unfortunate aftermath of the flooding and damage is the impact on the 35 staff members - "we will most likely have to cut back on our staff now and rehire next year," Bevis notes.

Editor's note: the top photo shows one of the hatchery buildings being inspected following the flooding - the lower photo shows a portion of that building and surrounding area before the flooding. To see additional photos relating to the fish farm activities, please see Photos. To read earlier accounts of the flooding, please see:

• Losses Approaching $90,000.
• Flood Damages Fish Farm.

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