Govt team begins dismantling illegal fish cages in Batangas

A task force led by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Tuesday began dismantling 1,300 illegal fish cages in Batangas after fish kills hit parts of the province in the past weeks, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. Two patrol boats and 16 personnel from the BFAR, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and volunteers from the Batangas local government were deployed to remove the illegal fish cages in Taal Lake, the NDRRMC said. The task force began dismantling fish cages in Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo and San Nicolas—the four towns most hit by the fish kill incidents.

The NDRRMC likewise said that the task force plans to clear the lake of all illegal fish cages by the end of June. Over P148 million worth of fisheries produce were lost in nine Batangas towns after milkfish and tilapia perished in the area due to overstocking. Agriculture executives blame the fish kill incidents to operators’ failure to comply with standards set for building fish cages and allotting fingerlings per cage. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News