By Damion Mitchell, Farmers Weekly Co-ordinator 
Howard Hill and Dave DaCosta, aquaculture farmers from Hill Run, St. Catherine, examine a section of the clogged 'Town Gully' in Hill Run. The farmers say the gully has been contributing to the flooding of their farms. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
OPERATORS OF aquaculture farms in Hill Run, St. Catherine, are still counting their losses since the widespread flooding as a result of Hurricane Ivan two weeks ago, and already the damage has run into millions of dollars.
"I have seen many floods but this was the worst," said Paula Sterling, manager of the Fellowship Aquaculture Farm. She said although total losses would not be known before the next few weeks when the fish would be ready for the market, conservatively, she was estimating a loss of 30 per cent of production or about $2 million. The farm produces just over 100,000 pounds of tilapias each month.
According to Craig Francis, president of the Jamaica Aquaculture Association, the flooding of the five farms in Hill Run, spanning hundreds of acres, could have been minimised had the 'town gully' been cleaned by the authorities. The clogged gully, which runs from Spanish Town to the sea coast, is adjacent to the farms.
FLOODING
He further said the flooding was impacted by the construction of the second phase of Highway 2000 near to the fish-farming village from which huge volumes of water intended for the 'town gully' are channelled on to the farms.
According to Mr. Francis, the situation was considered to be especially discouraging since a special oversight committee had been set up to examine the effects of the Highway 2000 development project.
He said he told the committee, headed by Joy Douglas, a senior urban regional planner, of the concern, but to date there has been no favourable response.
But Mrs. Douglas told Farmers Weekly yesterday, prior to 'Ivan', there were problems with flooding in Hill Run. She said, however, that a hydrologist has since assessed the area and a team from the Ministry of Transport and Works, in reviewing the damage caused by Hurricane Ivan, was made aware of the conditions in Hill Run. As a result, she said a report would be prepared shortly to be submitted to Cabinet.
Meanwhile, Howard Hill, who operates H & H Farms, said fish farmers from Hill Run were now feeling neglected by the authorities responsible for cleaning the drain.
Dave DaCosta, manager of DaCosta Farms in Hill Run, said the flooding of his farm has pushed up his losses to $5 million since January, as he lost hundreds of fish as a result of the contaminated water from the Rio Cobre, which was used to refill his ponds. "It is a double whammy," he said.
SEVERELY HIT
And Noel Swaby, who rears ornamental fish, said he, too, was severely hit by the disaster. According to Mr. Wilson, he has lost more than 40 per cent of his production and this would restrict his exports to Florida, as well as his supply to the local market. But worse yet, he said his plans to expand his business were significantly hampered.
