BUHI, Camarines Sur – At least 20 metric tons of “tilapia”, estimated to be worth P2.1 million, were reported to have floated to the surface of Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur on Monday, October 26.
Buhi Municipal Information Officer Mark Nazarrea told The Manila Bulletin four villages near the lake were affected by the fish kill.
These were Barangays Iraya, Ibayugan, Tambo and Cabatuan.
“Mostly affected po nito yung mga fishermen na may fish cage. Sa ngayon po patuloy pa ang ginagawang imbestigasyon at assessment sa nangyari,” he said.
He said that the incident could have been spawned typhoon Quinta, which hit the region on Sunday night.
Nazarrea said that low dissolve oxygen was among the causes of the fish kill.
“Sa rapid assessment na ginawa ng Lake Development Office (LDO) at ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatice Resources (BFAR) Bicol, lumalabas sa findings ay low dissolve oxygen ang dahilan ng fish kill. Ayon sa BFAR, dapat nasa 5 parts per million (PPM) and ideal pero during the testing na ginawa kahapon, nasa 0.18 PPM to 4.37PPM lang. So yun ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit nalunod ang mga isda,” he said.
The total number of fishermen, who were affected by the fish kill, has yet to be determined.
Nazarrea added that the local government was going to give financial aid to the affected fishermen.
“Hindi naman nagpapabaya ang ating lokal na pamahalaan sa mga apektadong mangingisda. Hinihintay pa natin ang kumpletong report kung ilang mangingisda ang apektado,” he explained.