Seafood sales return to normal in oil spill-affected Rayong

Seafood sales in Rayong are now so brisk, people have to line up to buy crab before it’s sold out.

Patcharapol Panrak
Oil spill or no, there’s only so long Thais can go without fresh seafood and sales of it have returned to normal at Rayong’s Phae beach area.
For weeks following the July 27 oil spill that blackened Koh Samet beaches and incited fears of that petroleum and dispersed chemicals had tainted marine life, sales of crab, shrimp and other seafood had dried up.
But after Gov. Wichit Chatpaisit hosted a “Clean & Safe Seafood” rally Aug. 31, sales have returned to normal.
The governor, joined by executives from PTT Global Chemical, which was responsible for the spill, and Rayong police watched at the rally as a famous chef and noted seafood critic Santi Sawetwimol went to Phae Beach to cook up and sample roasted octopus, grilled crab and broiled lobster. Free samples and cash prizes were handed out to audience members.
Wichit said sales roared back so quickly that in early September Thai tourists discovered area hotels had taken all the crab. Needless to say, crab fishermen were delighted with the demand.
Crab vendors said prices are running 200-250 baht for crabs, while egg crabs can be had for 300 baht.

Pattaya drawing creates whole lotto frenzy

Dark irony as Pattaya, Marine Department lecture 100 boat operators on safety 24 hours before deadly speedboat crash

Millions of sea animals released in Rayong

Thailand’s first ‘tourist court’ opens in Pattaya

ECPAT International chooses Pattaya as site to research child migration

370 tourism-sector workers trained to spot human trafficking

Gift-wrapped present hides marijuana shipment

Sattahip police arrest 5, seize 2,400 ya ba pills

Korean couple leaves 100,000 on beach after midnight, surprised to find it stolen

12 Chinese hurt as tour bus runs red light in Rayong

Naked, drunk Russian flashes Jomtien 7-Eleven clerks

Pregnant motorcyclist dies in Sukhumvit collision

Thailand, Indonesia launch joint military exercise

Seafood sales return to normal in oil spill-affected Rayong

Navy makes day-long exhibit out of administrative tasks

Burglary suspect’s wife goes into labor at Pattaya jail

Pattaya School No. 9 celebrates 58th anniversary

Pattaya releases 200,000 shrimp into sea

Thailand among winners of IHUPE health-promotion awards

Thai Hotels Association holds Sports Day

Elephants help clean up Kledkaew access to Nong Nooch Tropical Garden

‘Eat to the Balinese Beat’ at Hard Rock Hotel Sept. 13-14