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.
