Palace to LGUs: Dismantle illegal fish pens now to prevent new fish kill this summer

Malacañang has reminded local government units to dismantle illegal fish pens to prevent the recurrence of fish kill this summer.   Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Saturday that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has identified overcrowding of fish pens in fishing areas as one key cause of fish kill.   "Si Atty. Asis Perez, ang head ng BFAR, nakikipag-coordinate mula nagkaroon ng fish kill, tuloy ang pakikipagtrabaho ng BFAR sa LGU. Binigay ng BFAR ang dahilan bakit tayo nagkakaroon ng fish kill, isa riyan ang proliferation ng illegal fish pen kaya nababawasan ang oxygen, nagkakasiksikan sa isang lugar kaya nababawasan ng oxygen ang ibang isda,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.   Valte also said the BFAR had made it clear that the responsibility of dismantling illegal fish pens is with the local governments. “Sinasabi ito ng BFAR, responsibility ng LGU mag-dismantle ng illegal fish pen.” — ELR, GMA News