BFAR to validate reports of fish kill

CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-7 is planning to send teams of experts to validate reports of fish kill in the different towns and cities in Cebu.

BFAR-7 Information Officer Alma Saavedra told The FREEMAN that the office has not yet confirmed any case or an occurrence of fish kill within Cebu province though.

She also said that not a single local government unit (LGU) has reported to their office about this particular problem.

Earlier, the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office in Cebu launched a damaged assessment survey allowing LGUs to cite any adverse impact that the weak El Niño has caused to their fisheries and crops or plantations.

So far, the cities of Mandaue and Carcar, and the town of Alcantara had accounted dead fish stocks in their aquafarms.

A separate data from the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office indicated that Cordova, Cebu had also declared fish kill of bangus (milkfish) products.

Saavedra said the BFAR-7 personnel, including chemists, will have to conduct an onsite inspection and collect water samples to verify if fish stocks have died or to examine if aquafarms are indeed contaminated.

Saavedra said aquaculture farmers have long been oriented that they have to deepen their ponds because the increasing temperature can penetrate the shallow waters.

Nevertheless, she said BFAR-7 will have to deploy its officers and experts to hold ocular inspection and scientific validation to assist local fishers.

She said chemists will be joining the team to initiate water sampling or collect specimen and have them undergo a laboratory analysis.

Moreover, Saavedra said the LGUs themselves can also send a letter request to BFAR-7 office if they need technical assistance. —/GAN (FREEMAN)