BFAR moves to prevent fish kill in Cagayan Valley

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya ,Philippines  – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned of a possible fish kill in the region like what happened in Pangasinan and Batangas should local fish cage operators ignore basic measures to prevent such an occurrence.

“While there are no fish kill incidents in the region so far this year, fishpond and fish cage operators should be on the lookout to prevent similar losses in their fish production areas,” said Dr. Jovita Ayson, BFAR-Cagayan Valley director.

Ayson said one of the leading causes of fish kill is the overstocking and overfeeding of fingerlings, resulting in reduced oxygen in the water.

Cagayan Valley is one of the country’s major sources of tilapia or St. Peter fish.

Last year, a fish kill occurred in Ramon, Isabela due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Ayson said fishpond operators need not apply feeds so often if natural food like algae is present, ensuring the presence of oxygen in the water.

She added that mixing tilapia with carp in a certain proportion could likewise help “clean out” the bottom of the fishpond where unconsumed feeds can be eaten up by the carp, preventing debris from accumulating.

“Actually, this problem of fish kill could have been preventable had fishpond operators just practiced proper fishpond management like limiting the number of fingerlings and the number of times that they are fed as well as ensuring that the fishpond water is changed regularly,” Ayson said.

She said they are now making the rounds of major fish cages in the region to ensure that fish kill will not occur.