Lake Palacpacin's telecenter: An example of effective fishkill prevention

MANILA, Philippines -  The Batangas fishkill that took place last May 28 brought massive socio-economic loss to fisherfolk communities with losses of over 752.6 metric tons of fish worth P57.226 million. 

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, lack of oxygen brought about by the rainy season in Taal Lake was the primary cause of the fishkill.  

The fishkill, however, can be prevented. During the first quarter of 2011, Ateneo de Manila University’s School of Science and Engineering launched the Asia Pacific Telecommunity SHARE Project dubbed “A Broadband Farm to Market Ecosystem for Fisherfolk Communities.”  

The project, which has its pilot location at Lake Palacpacin in San Pablo City, Laguna, makes use of an Internet communication technology that can warn fisherfolk when fishkill will occur, thus helping them harvest fish on time. It was created together with the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and partners from Japan and Thailand. 

Instruments designed to measure the lake’s oxygen levels were set up around the lake. The servers were donated by the project’s Japanese and Thai partners.

Fisherfolk also play a crucial role in data gathering by inputting information through an interactive blog such as their catch of the day, be it tilapia, prawns, shrimp or some other seafood, as well as the condition of the lake as they see it.

The data collected by the servers and the information provided by the fisherfolk are then transmitted for analysis and interpretation by experts at the Ateneo de Manila and its partners through broadband Internet connection.

Information is subsequently disseminated to the fisherfolk in easy-to-understand language. An early warning will hopefully help them cope with the occurrence of fishkill.

If successfully implemented at Lake Palacpacin, the project may be replicated in other parts of the country.