Taiwan Oyster Town's Harvest Destroyed by Typhoon Gaemi
Oyster farmers in Chiayi County have lost nearly 80% of their harvest after Typhoon Gaemi tore through the region. The losses have impacted the whole oyster industry, from farmers to shuckers and restaurant owners.
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00:00Oyster farmer Chen Jin-yin brings in the day's harvest.
00:07He's been out since 5 a.m. collecting oysters in the waters near the coastal town of Dongshi
00:12in Taiwan's southern Jiayi County, only for a measly catch.
00:17It's been a month since Typhoon Kemi raged across Taiwan, causing nearly US$5 million
00:22in damage to the county's oyster industry.
00:25But for oyster farmers like Chen, that price is much more.
00:28If you want to get rid of oysters, it's very tiring.
00:32A year's worth of work is in vain.
00:34I don't know how to describe it.
00:39Oysters take a year to cultivate, and Typhoon Kemi hit in July, right in the middle of peak
00:44harvesting season.
00:45The loss has farmers concerned for their businesses and livelihoods as they approach September's
00:50Mid-Autumn Festival, a major holiday for oyster consumption.
00:54Chen says the rafts he grows oysters on should each yield up to 50 buckets of oysters.
00:59But since the typhoon, he's lucky if he's able to get 10.
01:03He estimates losses of over 2,000 buckets of oysters worth US$110,000.
01:07A lot of people really need to get a loan.
01:13It's a good thing the government has a loan.
01:18Otherwise, to be honest, I don't know how to describe it.
01:25Say, you grow everything.
01:29The effects of the typhoon are expected to be felt for months to come.
01:34This is the main oyster harbor in Taiwan, where farmers bring in the day's catches from
01:38bamboo rafts like these far offshore.
01:41The ones behind me are empty, but they'll be repaired and restocked for next year's
01:46harvest.
01:47Many oyster farmers hope that their lot will be back to normal.
01:50It's a hope that the rest of the community in Dongshi carries, too.
01:54Besides oyster farmers, many women in the community are involved as shuckers, and several
01:58storefronts along the wharf are dedicated to serving all sorts of dishes featuring the
02:02shellfish, from grilled oysters to oyster omelette and vermicelli.
02:06If the cost is too high, and we have to raise the cost, our customers' consumption will
02:12definitely decrease.
02:13So most of the customers are suffering.
02:17We can't even get the cost back, and we have to prepare the shellfish for next year.
02:27With typhoons frequent in the region, oyster farmers have come up with ways to minimize
02:31their losses.
02:32They might shell the harbors to make the structure stronger, or to make sure the oysters don't
02:41get lost.
02:42But with the damage from typhoon Kemi already done, all these oyster farmers can do now
02:55is pick up and start again in the next season, as they work to keep Dongshi's oyster economy
03:01running.
03:02Andy Xue and Tiffany Wong in Jiayi County for Taiwan Plus.