Harvest fish by end-May, BFAR reminds Batangas fish pen owners

Not wanting a repeat of last year's fish kill in parts of Luzon, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reminded fish pen owners in Batangas to harvest their fish by the end of May.

 

BFAR head Asis Perez said Thursday this was a preventive measure as he noted oxygen levels in the water may change at that time of the year.

 

"Alam natin ‘pag malapit ang tag-ulan, nagkakaroon ng pagbabago sa level ng oxygen sa tubig, at ito [ang] nagiging dahilan ng fish kill. Kaya advise natin sa kababayan na tanggalin ang isda," Perez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

"Bagama't wala tayong nakikitang pagbabago, mabuti ang handa tayo," he added.

 

He said the BFAR does not want a repeat of last year's fish kill, which caused big losses to fish pen owners.

 

Perez also said the fish kill prompted consumers to look for other food sources such as meat.

 

"May epekto sa ating ekonomiya ang pagkalugi nila," he said.

 

BFAR, LLDA working to address knifefish problem

 

Meanwhile, the BFAR and Laguna Lake Development Authority are working to address the problem of knifefish in Laguna.

 

Earlier, Asis said they are eyeing a joint campaign with the LLDA to stop the possible spread of knifefish in Laguna Lake.

 

"Tingnan natin kung nakapasok na at kung marami na ang nakapasok sa Laguna Lake, kailangan ng kampanya [para] mahuli ito. Kung kumakain ito ng kapwa isda, mate-threaten ang food fish," Perez said in an interview on dzBB radio Monday.

 

Perez said their initial findings showed the knifefish were not from the Philippines, although it may be "edible."

 

For its part, the LLDA said it is seeking the cooperation of owners of fish pens holding ornamental fish to make sure their fish do not get into Laguna Lake.

 

A report by dzBB's Allan Gatus said many knifefish had been sighted in Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, and Victoria in Laguna; and Binangonan and Pililia in Rizal. –KG, GMA News