The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed that low dissolved oxygen caused the fish kill at Barangay Buso Buso in Laurel, Batangas.
Around 121 fish cages were affected by the fish kill from Tuesday (May 28) to Sunday (June 2). An estimate of 600 metric tons of tilapia or equivalent to P43 million were found floating in Taal lake.
According to BFAR 4A Director Wilfredo Cruz, the dissolved oxygen should be 6 parts per million (ppm).
“Umabot po ng less than 1—0.58 talagang halos zero na. Mamatay po talaga kung 3 kaya pa 3 to 6 iyan ang normal, (It reached less than 1—0.58. It is almost zero. [The fishes] will die. They can still survive if 3 ppm, 3 to 6 is normal)” he said.
There are currently 700 fish cages in Barangay Buso Buso but it can only accommodate 200 fish cages.
Cruz said several fish cages were brought upstream to save them from the previous fish kill.
“Nang wala na fish kill hindi nila nahila palabas so naipon. Ibig sabihin malakas iyong tinatawag na biological oxygen demand, (After the fish kill the fish cages were stacked which increased what we call biological oxygen demand)” Cruz said.—(with reports from Sherwin Culubong)
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