Summer rains put milkfish in “thermal shock”
MILKFISH growers here have been alerted about the seeming abnormal weather condition prevailing these days, sudden downpour after a hot summer day at a time when the temperature usually reaches above 40 degrees centigrade.
Dagupan City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina, however, said that despite this abnormal situation that occurred since after the Bangus Festival ended on May 6, no force harvesting by fishpond owners has been noted in Dagupan.
Molina said aquaculture scientists describe the sudden changes in temperature a bane to fish in captivity and will likely make them suffer thermal shock that could lead to mass fish kill.
However, she said so far nature has been kind since sudden rains always come in the afternoon or early evening when the sea water enters the rivers and fishponds because of high tide, therefore, the occurrence of thermal shock is nil.
She called on the fish farmers to open the gates of their ponds once high tide occurs in order to allow the colder water to come in.
In an extremely hot weather condition, Molina advised fishpond owners and their caretakers to be observant. She said if the fishes surface with their nostrils first, it is a sign that they are affected by thermal shock.
It is a sign of lack of dissolved oxygen in the water so some interventions are necessary in order to save the fish.
When the signs become obvious, she said force harvesting becomes necessary if they want to cut their losses.
The most vulnerable to thermal shock, according to Molina, are the bigger milkfish or those already in marketable sizes.
She also pointed out that during hot weather condition, the growth of milkfish is usually slow, which translates to lower revenues. (Leonardo Micua)
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