Vice Gov Leviste: 'Unusual' fish behavior seen in Batangas

Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste said "unusual" fish behavior was noted in about four villages in Batangas over the weekend but officials are not yet calling the phenomenon a "fish kill." In an interview over radio dzBB on Monday, Leviste said, “May isdang naapekto at namatay pero hindi makumpara sa nagdaang massive fish kill itong nakaraang buwan." Leviste said the unusual fish behavior were noted in at least four villages in Talisay and Laurel towns in Batangas. About “70 to 80 percent" of the affected fish were bangus (milkfish), adding that tilapia fish were also affected, he said. Leviste asked the public not to panic because the local government is doing its best to save the affected fish. "Sana huwag mag-panic ang mangingisda at parokyano," Leviste said. Leviste also said concerned agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have already been informed about the situation noted on Sunday night.

Not a "fish kill" yet In a separate interview on radio dzBB, BFAR head Asis Perez said they are not yet officially considering the recent phenomenon in Batangas a fish kill because the number of fish In a separate interview on dzBB, Perez said the sightings of dead fish were reported at around 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. Perez said authorities are trying to save the fish by bringing fish cages to areas where the oxygen level is higher. “Ang ginagawa ng tao doon pinapadala natin ang fish cages sa lugar kung saan mataas ang oxygen level. May 17 pumps para emergency para umakyat ang oxygen," he said. Only last week, the BFAR said fish from Taal Lake in Batangas is safe to eat after noting that the oxygen in the water in the affected area have started to reach normal levels. An earlier report on dzBB radio quoted Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFR) Calabarzon officer-in-charge Esmeralda Manalang have reached the normal level of 4.5 parts per million (ppm). Fish kill losses Estimates by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed the fish kill in Batangas and Pangasinan caused at least P184.666 million (1,925 metric tons) in losses. The NDRRMC said the fish kill affected some 62 fish cage operators (23 in Batangas, 39 in Pangasinan) and 447 fish cages (339 in Batangas, 108 in Pangasinan). The fish kill prompted authorities in Metro Manila to keep watch against unscrupulous vendors mixing the tainted fish with fresh catch in Metro Manila markets. - VVP, GMA News