Philippines: Another Fishkill Hits Taal Lake Leaving At Least 45 Tons of Tilapia and Bangus Dead

By Arnell Ozaeta – “BATANGAS, Philippines – A new fishkill has struck 2 barangays in Agoncillo town, Batangas, leaving at least 45 tons of tilapia and bangus dead, authorities said Thursday.

Jing Seguismundo, public information officer of the Batangas provincial government, said 6 cages in Taal lake located along Barangay Bilibinwang and Subic Ilaya were affected by the fish kill.

‘Nag-overstocking na naman ang mga negosyante sa nasabing lugar kaya kinulang na naman ang level ng dissolved oxygen na nagresulta ng fishkill,’ Seguismundo said, quoting officials of the Bureau of Fisheries.

Seguismundo said inspite of their repeated warning against fish cage owners on overstocking, ‘hindi pa rin sila nadadala.’

She said the owners dug at least 2 pit holes to bury the dead fish.

Early this year, the provincial task force on fish cages dismantled thousands of fish cages following a wide spread fishkill that hit the Taal lake.” Source.