THE PLANNED DEMOLITION of illegal fish pens in Dagupan City is now just awaiting the go-signal of Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.

City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina said there are 20 illegal fish pens situated in various rivers here that   have already been identified for demolition following three notices issued to the owners ordering them to voluntarily tear down the structures.

The third notice expired mid-November.

Molina said the illegal structures are found in extended and expanded areas of registered and legally operating fish pens along existing navigational lanes owned by different individuals.

“We will begin the demolition as soon as Mayor Fernandez Jr. gives us the go signal to start,” said Molina.

Those to be initially demolished are fish pens located in Calmay, Lucao, Pugaro, Salapingao and Sitio Sabangan in Bonuan.

“We will strictly implement the law whether or not the fish pens to be demolished are still in the midst of growing fishes,” she added.

FISH KILL

Meanwhile, Molina alerted all fish farmers in Dagupan to be on the lookout for possible fish kill that may occur because of the abrupt change in temperature of the water as a result of the rain showers late last week.

She said there were initially three areas in the Dagupan River that were observed vulnerable to fish kill, which were later increased to five. Later on, the entire Dagupan River was declared under threat.

The rain showers the whole day of Thursday subjected the milkfish in the water to stress while the dissolved oxygen in some areas of the river was measured below the normal level of 3.

The change of water temperature from hot to cold also put the milkfish under pressure.

Molina said they have alerted  all fish farmers to monitor  their fish round-the-clock and be ready to undertake immediate harvesting if the fish tend to be surfacing from the water and seem gasping for breath.—LM

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