BFAR: P120 million losses in Magat Dam fish kill
MANILA, Philippines — An El Niño-driven fish kill has caused P120 million in losses to tilapia farms in Magat Dam, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said.
Nazario Briguera, BFAR Cordillera Administrative Region director, said the reported damage is from Alfonso Lista in Ifugao with P100 million and Ramon town in Isabela, P20 million.
“The majority of stocks there are almost gone because of the fish kill happening at Magat Dam,” Briguera told dzMM.
Fish mortality among tilapia raised in fish cages at Magat Dam was first observed on June 23.
Authorities linked the incident to the extreme heat due to El Niño, which caused water levels to drop at Magat Dam.
“When the water level goes down, the dissolved oxygen level drops, too. This is the oxygen that fish breathe,” Briguera said.
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