Fish kill

About 600 kilos of fish were found dead in the pond at the South Road Properties. We never thought there were fish there when the high temperature broke out in Metro Cebu. It was inevitable for marine life to be affected, then we came to know that this pond was unsuitable for aquaculture or breeding any form of fish for that matter. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that the way it was constructed seemed like it was an unfinished project. It could have been a suitable place for the people of Cebu City to harvest fish, but the way it was built wasn’t suitable.

The fish that they saw were not cultured but from the sea. They also found out that the water in the pond came from different canals in areas near the pond. So now we come to the question, do we really need a pond in Cebu City? If you ask me there are pros and cons to having cultured fish for the city despite the known fact that it can generate income, boost the economy, and augment the city’s food supply. We are also considering its impact on the environment.

You see, the South Road Properties is located in an area near residents, vehicles, and the highway. Definitely in an urban setting. It’s dangerous and risky to produce food in this location. Well, there may be a chance that fish will come out healthy and beneficial but there are also risks. If you ask me again what I would think is viable for the city, it is urban gardening. So, here we go again with the environmental talk. Who gets tired of it anyway? This is the reality we are facing.

Environmental quality is dwindling. Aside from the issue of air quality and pollution, we are also facing problems of water and food security. Welcome to the modern days where technology teaches us so much that we forget the very basics; taking care of Mother Nature. I don’t care how many pieces I have to write or posts I have to make just for everyone to know that we should take part in this revolution and realize that we need to step up our game in the fight for a clean environment. There are just too many trees being cut down. The polar ice caps are melting and animals are facing extinction. These haven’t happened before and is plaguing the children of the next generation. Heck, they might be my own children too! Raising a child today is scary - we are too scared to have children who may become digital monsters rather than happy babies who know how to empathize and feel with real human beings.

The story of the fish tell us so much, not just the stench that we smell whenever we pass by the South Road Properties. It tells us that it’s time for us to wake up. Cebu City may be a very vibrant place, but we have to think twice if it’s really livable. Is the population too concentrated in this area? Have we forgotten our roles as stewards of the environment? Or have we not harnessed enough what we have in the mountain barangays? I guess this is what the local government units should look into. We have acquired a vast property through the reclamation but have we used it wisely?