Senator suggests early warning system to minimize fish kill effects

Senator Francis Pangilinan has told the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to consider implementing an early warning system to minimize the effects of future fish kill incidents. “An early warning system much like what PAGASA and Phivolcs have would enable fishermen to harvest the spoils early and should enable them to do the necessary preventive measures to mitigate heavy losses," Pangilinan said at a hearing conducted Wednesday by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, which he chairs. Pangilinan also suggested that BFAR provide a hotline that fisherfolk can call to report fish kill incidents. “This massive fish kill in Pangasinan and Batangas should serve as a valuable lesson to everyone that greed can backfire and cost unscrupulous owners a lot more than just their money. Their permits should be revoked and their names should be blacklisted," he said. During the same Senate hearing, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup pointed to overstocking as a possible reason for the fish kill. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/222823/nation/da-exec-overstocking-led-to-batangas-fish-kill The fish kill incidents have affected not only fisherfolk, but also a number of restaurants serving bangus or milkfish as their specialty, according to a special report on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation." — PE/VS, GMA News