By Noreen Jazul
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said it is "starting to see" fish kill of bangus in Taal Lake.
Agriculture Secretary Dr. William D. Dar (KEVIN TRISTAN ESPIRITU / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview with ANC, DA Secretary William Dar said the "dissolved oxygen" in the lake is now "very low."
"Kung wala kang (If there is no) dissolved oxygen, talagang mamamatay na ‘yung isda (fish will really die) with increasing acidity, it will result to fish kill," Dar explained.
Dissolved oxygen, according to USGS, is a "the amount of oxygen available to living aquatic organisms."
In addition to the low level of dissolved oxygen, Dar also noted the "little" increase in the lake’ sulfur level.
Dar said fish kill of tilapia can also happen "anytime soon."
"But for tilapia, now, presently, yung buhay na buhay, presko, pwede pang kainin iyon (those that are alive, fresh, can still be eaten)," Dar said, adding that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has done laboratory tests on tilapia found in the lake.