Aquaculturists seek window hours to feed fish in Taal Lake

Aquaculturists in Taal, Batangas on Sunday called on the government to set window hours during which to feed and harvest tons of “healthy, marketable” fish that had been abandoned since the lockdown that followed the Taal Volcano eruption.

In a statement, the Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance, Inc. (TLAAI) said they had written to Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, among other officials, about the 70 percent of fish in the lake that survived the eruption.

The TLAAI pointed out that their daily harvest from the Taal Lake ranged from 120 to 150 tons of bangus and tilapia prior to the volcano’s eruption.

“Of this volume, about 60 percent is consumed in Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Quezon. The remaining 40 percent is sent to Metro Manila and sold through the PFDA Fish-port Complex in Navotas City,” they said.

The group underscored that the surviving fish needed to be fed and fattened to maximize their quality and value.

“We also need to repair our cages and start recovering and rebuilding whatever is left of our livelihood. These fish are our only chance to recover and sustain our 12,000 workers and their families,” they added.

Since Taal Volcano's phreatic eruption last January 12, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology had recommended the prohibition of entry on Volcano Island, areas over Taal Lake, and communities within a seven-kilometer radius of the main crater.

Aside from the window hours to feed their fish, TLAAI also sought the following:

• Establishment of a mobile office of the Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and other local government units for the issuance of Auxiliary Invoice and Local Transport Permits;
• BFAR and Philippine Coast Guard presence and assistance to fisherfolk during the implementation of the window hours and harvesting within the seven-kilometer radius;
• Repair and rehabilitation of access roads to and from Taal Lake to facilitate quick delivery of fish harvest, feeds supply and urgent cage repairs;
• Credit or Letters of Guarantee from BFAR to feed producers; and
• Membership of TLAAI or the fisheries sector in the proposed Taal Lake Commission.

— Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News