‘No fish kill in Pangasinan town’

MANILA, Philippines — The municipal agriculture office of Anda, Pangasinan has denied reports of a fish kill in the town.

A statement posted on the Facebook page of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Ilocos on Friday quoted Anda municipal agriculturist Elizabeth Tomas as saying that there were “isolated fish mortalities” due to water stratification caused by sudden and heavy downpour.

“The operators observed their stocks gasping for air showing signs of stress from the sudden temperature change on June 4,” the post read.

As a precautionary measure, fish pen operators were advised to harvest their stocks, which they were able to sell for P70 to P80 per kilo depending on the size.

Tomas said the harvested milkfish are safe for human consumption contrary to claims by some netizens.

“These isolated fish mortalities were due to the effects of climate change, prevailing hot weather and sudden heavy rainfall, affecting thermal stratification and influencing supply of dissolved oxygen available for fish stocks in an affected area,” she said.

Tomas said a fish kill, on the other hand, is caused by ”unfavorable water quality parameters caused by unsustainable culture practices.”