Fishkill in Batangas: A Result of Sudden Change in Temperature

Fishkill in Batangas City
Fishkill in Batangas City

752.6 metric tons of fish died in Batangas after the oxygen level in the water in Taal Lake lowered down due to the sudden change of temperature in the area after the rainy season.

According to officials in the City, about  57,226,000 million was the estimated worth of fish that died in the Lake.

One of the officials of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or BFAR,Rosario del Mundo said that the fishkill that happened in the city was the worst disaster that has been recorded in Batangas due to climate change.

As of the record taken by the officials, many towns were badly affected by the fishkill. In Talisay town, it is estimated that about 375 MT of bangus or milkfish and 160 MT of Tilapia died. While in the town of Laurel, 50MT of bangus and 1.6 MT of bangus fingerlings were also damaged. The town of Agoncillo and San Nicolas were also affected by the fishkill.

According to Del Mundo, the oxygen level at the lake started to decrease last Thursday and the next day, fishes were already seen floating in the lake. She further explained that when the oxygen level in the water started to go down, fish cannot breathe anymore and eventually die.

Officials said that there were already recorded incidents of fishkill in the lake but it comes in small number compare to what happen today. Crabs and specie of fish called Biya that can only be seen in the Taal lake was also affected.

The total amount of damage in the fish industry is still unknown but it is expected to rise as some owner of fish cage is still estimating their lost.

An order was already released by Talisay City Mayor Zenaida Mendoza, that those fishes died in the lake must be buried in soil with a mixture of lime to avoid any unpleasant smell to arise. She also added that Batangas Governor Vilma Santos Recto has already sent a help in burying the dead fishes.

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