BFAR warns against eating Batangas 'double-dead' fish

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday warned the public against eating fish from the Batangas fish kill that wiped out around 700 tons of fish worth approximately P57 million. In an interview aired on GMA News’ “24 Oras" newscast, BFAR officer-in-charge Benjamin Tabios said the consumption of affected fish is hazardous to a person’s health. “Meron na ring lason ‘yan. Nakakasira na rin ng katawan ‘yan, magtatae ka," Tabios said in the television interview. Tabios pointed to fish congestion in the lake as a possible cause of the fish kill. “Posible kasing ang nangyari diyan, kulang ang hangin, hindi nakahinga ang isda."
The BFAR, along with the Department of Health, issued guidelines in buying fish from the market:

• Inspect the gills for a pinkish hue, which commonly indicates freshness
• Check the source of the fish being sold
• Buy only from trusted vendors

The BFAR also said it is keeping a tight watch on fish ports, such as the one in Navotas which gets its fish supply from Taal. In the “24 Oras" report, Navotas market operations chief Custodio Balaoing Jr. said, “Meron po tayo ditong mga market checker, mga supervisor, na umiikot po dito. Meron din po tayong mga tauhan ng Bureau of Fisheries na nagmamasid dito para masigurado ang kalidad ng isda." ‘Double-dead’ fish being sold However, some traders in Batangas continue to sell fish that died in the fish kill, according to another report on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation" newscast.
“Sariwa pa ito," said fish cage caretaker Jomar Capiles, referring to some of the fish affected by the fish kill. “Lalagyan ng yelo, pagkatapos ide-deliver sa buyer para mapakinabangan." Capiles said the affected resources are sold at P30 per kg or less than half the regular price. “Sayang naman kung hindi mapapakinabangan ito, eh," he said. The Talisay municipal government, however, asserted that it strictly prohibits this practice. “Nag-usap na kami ng aming hepe, si Hepe Manuel Maligaya, na merong magche-check point sa mga sasakyan na manggagaling Sampaloc para tingnan lang kung yung mga dala nilang isda ay mga sariwang isda," Talisay Mayor Zenaida Mendoza said. The BFAR explained that fish kills are commonly triggered by:

• diseases from bacteria,
• fungi, parasites, and viruses
• natural toxins
• pollutant toxins
• oxygen depletion.

Meanwhile, “State of the Nation" said the fish kill problem has not only plagued Batangas, but also parts of Bolinao and Anda in Pangasinan.
The fish kill in Pangasinan wiped out over 10,000 metric tons of milkfish, estimated to cost around P2 million to P3 million. The agriculture offices in the area attributed the fish kill to the depletion of oxygen levels. — PATERNO ESMAQUEL II, GMA NewsMRT/VS, GMA News