Impacts of floods and drought on fish cage culture in rivers

Abstract

This article reviews evidence about the impacts from flooding and drought or low flows on fish cage culture in rivers in Thailand. Major floods damage cages, result in fish escapes and kill fish while low flow results in water depths too shallow for cages, increasing effective fish densities, which when combined with poor water circulation, leads to low dissolved low water quality. Floods and droughts are a significant source of financial losses. Farmers may be forced to oxygen concentrations and poor harvest carly sell fish at smaller-than-standard size and thus at a low price. Losses due to floods and droughts can be reduced by improving management of risks at farm and reach level..