BFAR monitoring reported fish kill, red tide

Low levels of dissolved oxygen in fish ponds due to the dry spell have resulted in fish kills in aquaculture areas in Central Luzon and Isabela province, but authorities quickly said the problem can still be mitigated. On Thursday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported that around 10,000 kilograms of dead tilapia were retrieved from the Magat Dam in Isabela, whose water level has been decreasing in recent days. Isabela province is under a state of calamity recently due to the dry spell. "Ten additional water pumps have been set to work at the Ifugao side of the Magat dam to induce water movement and help improve the levels of dissolved oxygen," BFAR director Malcolm Sarmiento said in an interview with GMANews.TV.

The BFAR has also advised dam operators to harvest earlier to prevent any more fish kills. "We have already advised the operator of the dam to start harvsting now and not wait for the usual Holy Week harvest time," Sarmiento said. In an earlier interview on GMA Network's Unang Balita, Sarmiento explained the circumstances behind a fish kill. "Ito (fish kill) ay nangyayari kapag bumababa ang level ng tubig sa fish pond. Kapag bumaba ang water level, bumababa rin ang level ng dissolved oxygen, at ‘pag nakulangan ng level of oxygen, nahihirapan ang mga isda. Dapat magbawas ng stock kung ganoon ang nangyayari," he said. Sarmiento warned that fish found already floating in ponds are unsafe for human consumption and must not be harvested. "Ang payo namin, ‘pag naghihingalo ang isda, safe ‘yan. Nahihirapan lang naman sila dahil walang oxygen. Pero ‘pag lumulutang na sila, dapat ‘wag na ‘yang kunin… ‘Pag namatay kasi ang isda, lulubog ‘yan, at after some time, lulutang uli… at that stage, ‘di na po dapat gamitin," Sarmiento said. Sarmiento said the BFAR has already ordered the construction of shallow tube wells in Central Luzon, the country’s biggest producer of tilapia, to augment the water supply of fish ponds across the region. At the same time, Sarmiento predicted an increase in the incidence of red tide in the country in the coming months. He identified the areas of Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, Murcielagos Bay in Misamis Occidental, Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, and Bislig Bay in Surigao del Sur as contaminated with red tide. Despite the recent fish kills, Sarmiento said losses to the aquaculture industry are at a minimum and can still be alleviated. "Hindi pa naman [ganoon kalaki ang nawawala]. Maaagapan pa (The losses are not that high)," Sarmiento said. - RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV