BFAR warns of fish kill in C. Valley amid heat

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines   â€“ The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned fishpond operators of possible fish kill in the region amid the intense heat.

Emerson Tattao, BFAR aquaculturist for Cagayan Valley, said the prevailing hot temperature usually brings a high fish mortality rate in fish farms.

The combination of hot weather and low water level in fish farms, according to Tattao, speeds up the decomposition of organic matter and facilitates the release of harmful gases trapped in the pond or river bottom.

“(This is) where cool and dense water also rushes to the bottom, causing poorly oxygenated and turbid water to rise (which results in) instant death (in the fish) stocks,” he said.

Tattao said the sudden rainfall in the late afternoons following extreme heat could aggravate the situation as this results in “highly stressful condition” for the fish stocks, which can lead to their high mortality rate.

He urged fishpond operators to harvest what they could from their ponds to prevent further losses in case fish kills happen. This could also “refresh” the ponds and prevent fish kills, he added.

In Isabela, Linda Aquino, provincial fishery officer, said they are monitoring at least 1,000 hectares of fishponds for possible fish kills. 

“We hope that there will be no cases of fish kill in the province until the end of summer despite the hot weather,” Aquino said.