Cold weather affects Bulacan fish production

HAGONOY, Bulacan, Philippines– Low temperatures brought by the northeast monsoon has caused a decrease in fish production in the coastal towns of this province.

Fisherfolk here have a hard time catching fish from the open sea while fishpond operators suffer losses in fish stocks because of the cold weather.

Even the saline tilapia hatchery being operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here has suffered losses.

That’s because the cold reduces dissolved oxygen in the water due to the lack of sunlight that contributes to photosynthetic cycle in the water, explained Felix Tirado, head of the BFAR’s Technology Outreach Station for Brackishwater in Barangay San Pedro.

Citing studies, he said that the hours between midnight and 6 a.m. are when there is low dissolved oxygen in the water. The cold also causes stress on the fish stocks, including breeders.

“During cold weather, fish don’t eat much and it weakens their body and resistance to the cold,” Tirado said in Filipino.

The BFAR Technology Outreach Station for Brackishwater produces more than three million saline tilapia fry every year and these are distributed to all provinces in Central Luzon for free.

But records show that at least 30,000 saline tilapia fry and 47 breeders died at the hatchery in the past week because of the cold. That was about 10 percent of the monthly production.

Tirado said that fishermen in Manila Bay are also having a hard time catching fish in the open sea at night due to the cold weather.

Cold kills animals in Negros, Cebu

The cold is also the cause of death of at least 105 fighting cocks and 114 other farm animals in Negros Occidental, causing losses amounting to P1.9 million.

Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena said his office received reports that 105 fighting cocks worth P1,050,000 died from the cold in the cities of La Carlota, Talisay, Bago and in Murcia town.

He also said that 114 farm animals died from the cold in 24 barangays in 12 towns and cities in Negros Occidental, causing losses of P912,290 to poultry and livestock.

Of the affected animals, 49 were sheep, 38 swine, nine goats, nine poultry, seven cattle and three carabaos. Most of these were young backyard farm animals owned by small-scale farmers.

Earlier, Decena warned gamefowl breeders in the province against possible bird flu outbreak.

He said gamefowl breeders should refrain from visiting countries with bird flu cases such as China and Hong Kong.

The Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO) said gamefowl breeding is the second largest industry in the province next to sugar. Negros Occidental is a top exporter of gamefowl, with P4 billion worth of animals and exporting annually 200,000 fighting cocks or about P1 billion in annual sales. This excludes materials and feeds for their upkeep estimated at P2 billion.

Decena said that because of climate change, farmers and gamefowl raisers should provide adequate housing, feeds, animal barns, hay or silage, heat insulator and other items for farm animal care.

Last week, 36 animals in Cebu City were also reported to have died while about P11.5 million worth of crops were affected by extreme weather conditions.  –  With Danny Dangcalan, Raymund Catindig