TYPHOONS Maring and Nando that affected Dagupan City for two consecutive weeks, caused minimal damage to infrastructure in the fishery industry, but bangus and other high value fish were apparently stressed by the flood resulting in some to suffer from epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS).

Locally known as korekong, the EUS manifests in the form of wounds in the mouth and body of the fish.

Growers of bangus, malaga, talakitok, sea bass and other high value fish in fish pens or cages reported that about 25 per cent of their stocks were affected, according to Emma Molina, Dagupan City Agriculturist.

This could be a result of the fish swimming against the flow of water, especially when floodwaters flow from upstream, bumping against nets and other parts of the fish pens or fish cages, or simply stress or salinity in the water.

Molina said while the unpleasant sight of wounds could easily turn off consumers, fish with korekong are still safe for human consumption.

However, fish with korekong could be potent if they get bacterial infection.

Bacterial infection can be caused by silt that is deposited in the skin, said Molina.

ILLEGAL STRUCTURES

Meanwhile, the EUS incidence has helped the Bantay Ilog Task Force’s efforts to demolish illegal fish structures in the city’s rivers after pen owners were forced to harvest their stock early to avoid the korekong syndrome.

Fernandez has set an August 31 deadline for the removal of all illegal structures. –Eva Visperas

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