Bangus farmers in Dagupan City are facing challenges anew due to "gataw," a phenomenon where fish struggle to survive because of low oxygen levels in the water during hot weather.

To prevent losses, some farmers are reducing their stock.

Rodolfo Laigue, a bangus grower, decided to lower the number of fingerlings he released into his three-hectare fishpond.

Instead of the usual 25,000, he only stocked 16,000 to avoid overcrowding.

“Ang ginawa naming paraan, nagbawas ng stocks kasi ‘yun ang alam kong isang paraan para makaiwas sa gataw,” Laigue said.

His bangus stock is now exactly one month old and is set for harvest in the second or third week of June.

He suffered losses last year due to gataw and hopes to prevent it this time.

“Pag biglang umulan, isa pa ‘yan. Pag nagbago ang klima, may namamatay na isda,” he added.

Experts recommend partial harvesting to lessen the number of fish in ponds and improve their survival rate.

FLUCTUATING PRICES

Meanwhile, bangus prices are fluctuating.

Medium-sized bangus now sells for P140 per kilo, which cost P150 per kilo previously, due to multiple farmers harvesting at the same time.

“Maraming nag-harvest, nagsabay-sabay sila. Kaya bumaba ang presyo,” Alvin Diaz Fernandez, a bangus vendor, said.

However, smaller bangus used for daing have increased in price, now selling at P120 per kilo from the previous P75.