CAUSED BY NEAPTIDE AND POLLUTION

BOLINAO—At least P40 million worth of milkfish (bangus) died in a massive fishkill that broke out anew along the Caquipotan Channel in Bolinao and Anda towns.

The new fishkill, however, is at least not as big as the one that broke out along the Caquipotan Channel in 2002, according to Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR’s National Integrated Fisheries Technology and Development Center (NIFTDC).

The outbreak occurred as an aftermath of a three-day neap tide last May 18 to 20 when the dissolved oxygen in the water went to as low as 2 parts per million (ppm) and caused the fish in captivity to die.

This was bared by fishery officials from both towns who confirmed that most of the fish that died floated in fish cages and had to be buried in holes inland.

Many fish farmers did forced harvesting in a bid to minimize their losses.

The neap tide occurred at a time when the sky was balmy while experiencing intermittent rains in some of the coastal areas of Pangasinan that caused the temperature of the water to change from hot to cold, sapping the resistance of fish in captivity.

The floating fish cages for milkfish are situated along the Caquipotan channel, a body of water separating the towns of Bolinao and Anda.

The fish kill was also triggered by the continued overstocking of the cages and pens officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said.

Compounding to the deteriorating situation in the channel is the presence of decaying organic matters at the bottom of the Caquipotan Channel estimated as 32 centimeters to more than one meter thick in some sections of the water that could not be easily flushed out.

Rosario said the fishkill could have been avoided had fish farmers followed recommendations of aquaculture experts on the need to impose moratorium on all aquaculture activities in the area to enable the water in Caquipotan Channel to improve its quality.

He has suggested to owners of fish cages in the area to begin relocating their cages in other feasible areas as being done in Norway, now the world’s number one exporter of salmon today raised in mid sea.

The massive fish kill in western Pangasinan spawned calls for greater vigilance in the Dagupan City Fish market as there may be attempts to bring long dead fish to the city. (Leonardo Micua)

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