Heavy Rains Cause Mass Clam Deaths in Chiayi; Disaster Relief Announced

(CNA, Chiayi County, July 2) -- Recent continuous heavy rains have caused a massive die-off of farmed clams in Chiayi County. The Agriculture Department's preliminary statistics indicate that over 20% of the county's clam farms have been affected, with an estimated damaged area of 400 hectares. The Ministry of Agriculture has officially designated Budai Township, Dongshi Township, and Yizhu Township as areas eligible for cash assistance due to agricultural natural disasters.

Following the recent prolonged rainfall, farmed clams in Chiayi County experienced a large-scale die-off. On June 29, Legislator Tsai Yi-yu of the Democratic Progressive Party invited representatives from the Fisheries Agency, the county government, and other units to collect samples from coastal fish ponds in Chiayi County. The sampling revealed a mortality rate of 70% to 80%.

The Chiayi County Agriculture Department stated that after inspecting and sampling one fish pond each in Dongshi and Budai, a clam mortality rate of 70% to 80% was observed. Preliminary statistics show that over 20% of the county's clam farms suffered losses due to this round of heavy rainfall, with an estimated damaged area of 400 hectares. Consequently, a formal request was made to the Ministry of Agriculture to declare these areas eligible for assistance.

The Chiayi County Government announced today in a press release that the Ministry of Agriculture has designated Budai Township, Dongshi Township, and Yizhu Township as areas eligible for cash assistance for agricultural natural disasters caused by the heavy rains of June 25, 115 (2026). The assistance item is "Fish Pond Farming - Clams." Eligible disaster-affected fishermen must submit their applications, along with relevant documents, to the township (town) office where their fish ponds are located, from July 2 to July 15.

The county government stated that the amount of cash assistance will be processed according to the "Regulations on Cash Assistance Items and Amounts for Agricultural Natural Disasters." The assistance amount for "Fish Pond Farming - Clams" is NT$240,000 per hectare. Eligible recipients for cash assistance must be natural persons actually engaged in fishery production, possess a land fish pond aquaculture registration certificate, have completed stocking quantity declarations, and have a loss rate of 20% or more.

The county government added that fishermen can use the "On-site Photo App for Natural Disasters in Agricultural Industries" to record disaster damage, which will serve as supporting evidence for the township office's case review, thereby accelerating disaster inspection and review processes. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150702

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