BFAR-8: Seawater in Guiuan town at normal level

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines— An initial report released by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 8 showed that the seawater in Manicani Island off Guiuan town in Eatern Samar was within normal temperature range and ph level.

The BFAR undertook water quality monitoring around the island amid reports of alleged fish kill in the area, according to a report from PIA-8.

The activity done three weeks ago was to determine whether the seawater was still within the standard range of temperature and water quality for the survival of fishes and other marine life.

Justerie Granali, BFAR-8 officer in charge, said the result of the water monitoring showed the temperature was within the standard range of 27 to 30 degrees centigrade, which is the optimum for water temperature.

Granali also said the ph level, which was between 6.5 to 8, was still within the normal range in terms of water quality.

Some seashells were taken as samples to find out on the presence of heavy metals on the seawaters as some residents of the island blamed mining for the alleged fish kill in the area.

The results of the presence of heavy metals on the shellfishes will be known next week, pending the analysis of the BFAR central office in Manila.

The regional office lacks the equipment for the analysis of samples, which necessitates sending the samples to their central office for laboratory test. —(FREEMAN)