Fish Kill 101: Government answers frequently asked questions about the event

The Fish Kill incident that hit Taal Lake in Batangas and Pangasinan recently has caused many people to ask whether the affected fish are still safe to eat, what causes the event and other related questions.

To answer those questions, a "Press Briefer on Fish Kill" was posted on the President's website earlier today. Check it out below:

Is the fish safe to consume?

Yes, provided the fish is still on its fresh state condition which should exhibit the following characteristics:
1. Eyes are clear and glossy and not dull and sunken
2. Gills are bright red and not brownish to gray
3. Odor is fresh and not stale or putrid
4. Flesh is firm to touch and not soft; color is not bleached
5. Scales are intact and not easily removed
All spoiled fish, regardless to its species, are not safe to eat and therefore must be discarded.

Why is there a fish kill?

Fish kill results from natural and/or man-made causes. These may include reduced oxygen in the waters which may be due to factors such as drought, algal bloom, overpopulation or a sustained increase in water temperature and pollution caused by man.

In lakes, a natural phenomenon known as water overturn or upwelling occurs as a result of weather or climate changes – from long dry spells to sudden strong rains, among others.

In Taal Lake the causes of fish are as follows:

1. Natural – there is lack of dissolved oxygen in the water due to natural upwelling lakes

2. Man-made – Dissolved oxygen in the water is depleted due to violations of the BFAR’s prescribed Code of Practice for Aquaculture and local government ordinances on proper fish cage management. It was found out that some fish cages had been overstocked and the depths of the fish cage were increased from the prescribed 5 meters to 15 meters. These wrong practices exacerbated the fish kills.

In Pangasinan (Anda and Bolinao)

The fish kill in the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda are due to man-made causes – improper fish cage management and overcrowding of fish in the cages.

For close water system such as lakes, the prescribed stocking density is 20 fish/cubic meter. For open waters, stocking density could go up to 30 fish per cubic meter or more depending on water circulation among others.

How much fish in these areas were affected by fish kill?

As June 1, 2011 the reported losses are as follows:

Taal Lake: 700 metric tons
Anda and Bolinao: 50 to 70 metric tons

For the rest of the article, please proceed here: http://www.president.gov.ph/government/What-we-are-doing.aspx/Press%20Briefer%20on%20Fish%20Kill

Taal Lake Fishkill causes P53 million losses

Fishkill has hit Taal Lake in Batangas anew. The worth of damage from the recent fishkill has now reached P53 million according to authorities, as reported by Sun Star.

Dead bangus floating on Taal | Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN

Tons of dead milk fish (bangus) were seen floating on Taal Lake on Saturday. According to reports, the fishkill affected 5 towns and a city in Batangas province.

The incident said to have started early this week.

According to a May 25 GMA News report, residents in Balete, Batangas blamed the waste disposal activities of local piggeries for the fishkill. The report added that high concentration of nitrite and ammonia (toxic substances found in animal wastes) were found by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources when the water in affected areas in Balete were tested.

Meanwhile, Talisay Municipal Agriculturist Zenaida Macatangay pointed out climate change as well as the onset of the rainy season as the reasons for the incident, according to a report by ABS-CBN.

In 2008, P3.25 million worth of cultured tilapia in two villages of Talisay town were destroyed in a fish kill incident in Taal Lake.