Pangasinan town eyes bangus production moratorium

BOLINAO, Pangasinan, Philippines — Fish pen owners in this town have agreed on a two-year moratorium in the production of milkfish after P27 million worth of stocks were affected by fish kill in the past week.

The moratorium, which was agreed upon during a meeting called by Mayor Arnold Celeste on Friday, is seen to cleanse waterways in Caquiputan Channel.   

“Hopefully (bangus growers) will abide by the agreement because it is for the good of the industry,” Florante Garcia of the municipal agriculture said.

This town produces around 40 metric tons of bangus annually.

Garcia blamed the intense heat and sudden intermittent rains for the fish kill that affected 67 of 242 fish cages in Barangays Luciente II, Luna and Culang.

Around P86 million stocks of bangus were also affected by fish kill in Barangays Awag, Malong and Siapar in nearby Anda town.