February 25, 2010
El Nino-induced fishkill leaves 10,000 kilos of tilapia dead in Philippine province
El Nino-induced fishkill leaves 10,000 kilos of tilapia dead in Philippine province
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported Thursday (February 25) that at least 10,000 kilograms of tilapia died from lack of dissolved oxygen due to the low water level at the Magat Dam in Isabela--the second largest province in the Philippines.
BFAR chief Malcolm Sarmiento said fishkill at the Magat Dam was the worst among other similar incidents in the past.
Initial investigations revealed that the decreasing water level at the Magat Dam deprived the fish of dissolved oxygen.
Sarmiento fears more tilapia may turn up dead in the coming days, which is why they have advised fish cage operators to immediately conduct "premature harvest."
The BFAR chief also said they have also warned fish cage operators to immediately bury the dead fish and avoid selling them in local markets.
Susan Espinueva, chief of PAGASA's hydrometeorological division, said over the weekend that the Magat Dam's water level drops at an average of 0.5 meters a day. She said that significant drop in the dam's water level is caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
Espinueva said water irrigation reserves for the low-lying areas of the province will last only until March 15.
Isabela was the first province to be placed under a state of calamity after the prolonged dry spell caused millions of pesos worth of damage to crops.
On the other hand, BFAR has increased its ''red tide'' monitoring around Manila Bay.
Sarmiento said BFAR has set up 24 monitoring stations around the bay and increased the number of days of red tide inspections to twice a week.
But he clarified that sea shells caught or harvested from the Manila Bay were still safe.
The BFAR on Wednesday has detected red tide in 4 coastal areas including Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, Bislig Bay in Surigao del Sur, Dumangquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and Murcielagos Bay in Misamis Occidental.
It said that the lack of rain due to the El Niño phenomenon could cause high red tide incidence because bacteria proliferates more when the water is stagnant.
Sarmiento said the bureau has already installed checkpoints in the four areas to prevent the transport of shellfish to markets.
The BFAR official warned that all types of shellfish gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption.
