Fish from Laguna de Bay safe for consumption - Agri

A unit of the Department of Agriculture has assured the public that freshwater fish such as dalag, bangus, tilapia, ayungin, big-head and common carp caught or farmed in the waters of Laguna de Bay are safe for human consumption. In a report, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that a study it made on fish and water samples collected in different stations along the lake revealed that metal levels detected are within the standard limits set by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. BFAR said the study was conducted in response to the concerns raised by some sectors on the possible presence of high levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium in fish due to the alleged worsening condition of the lake. According to its findings, BFAR said the lake’s water could still be considered as suitable for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic products. Water and fish testings in the lake were conducted by the BFAR last October 18, 24 and 25, 2007 and in January 3, February 1 and 7, this year. Sampling sites include Siniloan, Pakil, Paete and Los Baños in Laguna and Binangonan, Cardona and Tanay in Rizal. The fish samples include tilapia, milkfish, dalag, ayungin, kanduli, bighead and common carp caught from open water and in fish pens and cages in Laguna de Bay. Laguna de Bay is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines with a total surface area of 900 sq. km. The lake's most dominant use is fisheries yielding from 37,000 to 47,000 MT (metric tons) of fish in 1997-2000 from fishpens and open fisheries. - GMANews.TV