Fishkill strikes Anda, Bolinao in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines—Fishkill struck the Kakiputan Channel in Bolinao and Anda towns in Pangasinan on Sunday and Monday, killing about 70 tons of bangus (milkfish) there, an official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Ilocos region said on Monday.

Nestor Domenden, BFAR regional director, said the sudden change in temperature due to heavy rains following warm days and the drop in the dissolved oxygen level in the water caused the fishkill.

Prestiliano Onzaga, fishery extension worker of the Anda town government, said some 50 tons of bangus cultured in fish cages in the Kakiputan Channel and in the waters off the villages of Awag and Narra in Anda turned belly up.

Fred Garcia, fishery and agriculture management council officer of Bolinao town, said at least 50 fish cages in the villages of Culang and Catubig were also hit by the fishkill.

Garcia said between 15 and 20 tons of bangus were killed in the town.

Domenden said the dissolved oxygen level in the Kakiputan Channel in Anda and Bolinao on Sunday was 0.9 milligrams per liter (mg/l), way below the 4 mg/l minimum level where fish could survive.