Group reports fish kills on Rapu-Rapu island

An environment group on Monday reported that fish kills occurred again on the island of Rapu-Rapu, Albay, over the weekend. Antonio Casitas, spokesman of the environment group Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa, said the fish kills happened in the five coastal villages of Pagcolbon, Malobago, Santa Barbara, Carubcob and Poblacion. The fish kills happened after heavy and continuous rains since Friday, said Casitas. Residents reported an unusual number of dead fish floating near the port of Barangay Poblacion. The shoreline where the fish kills were reported cover an area of about seven kilometers. Fish kills hit at least five villages in 2005 after mine tailings reportedly spilled from the nearby Lafayette Mining operation. A fact-finding commission that looked into the environmental situation in the area estimated that 7,000 to 10,000 farmer-fishermen from Rapu-Rapu were affected by the 2005 fish kill and decline in catch. The commission was headed by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes. Officials of Barangay Poblacion issued an urgent advisory on Monday exhorting residents to avoid catching, buying, or eating fish from the area. - GMANews.TV