Shortage of tilapia in South Cotabato feared after fish kill

SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines - Officials are scrambling to address the mysterious fish kill in a scenic upland lake in Lake Sebu town, which produces high quality tilapia sold everywhere in the province.

Lake Sebu Mayor Antonio Fungan said more than 50 metric tons of Tilapia raised in fish cages at the lake have died in recent weeks and they have yet to find a solution to stop the fish kill.

Experts said one possible reason for the fish kill is the overcrowding of caged tilapia in the lake.

"This is already alarming and is now giving owners of fish cages in the lake very serious problems. Tilapia culture is now the main source of income for our municipality,” Fungan said.

Fungan said the office of the municipal agriculturist had facilitated the initial distribution of tilapia fingerlings to some of the affected fisherfolks  to help them recover from their losses.

Ambutong Pautong, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 12, said the government is now addressing the problem to avert possible shortage of supply of tilapia to markets in South Cotabato.

He said the BFAR-12 needs to disperse about half million fingerlings to ensure adequate supply of Tilapia in South Cotabato and neighboring provinces next year.