‘Fish kill’ hits Laoag barangay

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—Barely a week after Laoag City agriculture officer Oscar Recta denied that there was a “fish kill” in the city, Brgy. 35 (Gabu Sur) chairperson Gil Ramos reported that thousands of fishes died in their barangay.

Mr. Ramos confirmed the “fish kill” when they personally saw fishes floating starting April 1.

The barangay head said he reported this immediately to the Dept. of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The said agencies took samples of aragan (sea weeds) and lumot (algae) for laboratory testing in San Fernando City, La Union.

The result later indicated that too much presence of aragan and lumot inside the fish cages ultimately became toxic for the fishes leading to their deaths.

Mr. Ramos added that according to the BFAR and DA officials, overcrowding of fish cages and over-population in every fish cage were also the reasons for the fish kill as this resulted in lack of oxygen for the fishes.

Mr. Ramos admitted the fact that the Mangato Creek where the fish cages were established were really over-crowded and has led to the stoppage of the flow of the water.

Mr. Ramos also reported the presence of the illegal bukatot [small fish nets] which caches even fish fingerlings.

Relative to this, the DA officials instructed all the fisher folks in the said barangay to remove all the fish cages, fish nets and other related materials along the creek for clean-up purposes.

This resulted in forced harvesting of fishes that were still alive, Mr. Ramos related. Small fishes however were relocated.

Of the thousands of fingerlings of Malaga, Tilapia and Bangus, Mr. Ramos said only a few were harvested alive for human consumption.

Earlier, Mr. Recta denied any “fish kill” event in the city, specifically at Brgy. Gabu.

Mr. Recta admitted though that one fisherman reported to his office the possible fish kill event due to the presence of aragan or sea weeds and the very hot water due to the summer season.

Relative to this, Mr. Recta said his office never failed in reminding all the fisher folks here to have an orderly putting up of fish cages so that the flow of water will not be stopped or disturbed.

He added that over-crowded and overloaded fish cages are prone to grow aragan and lumot that would later use up oxygen in the water.

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