Shrimp farmers face water crisis

BREBES, Central Java: Hundreds of local prawn farmers have been forced to prematurely harvest their shrimp because the water shortage is threatening the crustaceans' lives.

Head of Brebes Animal Husbandry Office Eddy Muaram told The Jakarta Post this premature harvesting meant that one ton of shrimp could be harvested from each pond. Normally each pond relinquishes up to three tons.

The water shortage in the area has raised the saline content of the pond water to the point that it threatens the shrimp, he said. (wah/emb)