Taiwanese clams die off in heatwaves; lawmaker urges faster disaster aid

Clams in the Taixi township of Yunlin County, a significant aquaculture area in Taiwan, are suffering from massive die-offs attributed to extreme weather fluctuations. The clams are reportedly unable to withstand the "sauna-like" conditions, which involve rapid and drastic temperature changes.

Legislator Liu Chien-kuo visited the affected aquaculture zones on Wednesday, accompanied by experts from the Fisheries Research Institute. Following the survey, Liu appealed to the Fisheries Agency to accelerate the notification and review processes for natural disaster relief. He stressed the importance of promptly implementing and expediting aid to the affected farmers.

The legislator highlighted that the current situation demands swift action to mitigate the economic impact on the local clam farming community. The rapid temperature swings, characteristic of the recent weather patterns, are creating an environment where the shellfish cannot survive, leading to substantial losses for the producers.

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The Fisheries Agency should complete the notification and review procedures as quickly as possible and implement and expedite natural disaster relief.