BATANGAS – About 30 tons of tilapia were lost to fish kill that hit Taal Lake in Batangas, specifically in Agoncillo town, the Municipal Agriculture Office reported on Tuesday, August 9.
Municipal Agriculturist Olive Mirasol said in a report that about 43 fish cages of Barangay Banyaga and Barangay Bilibinwang were affected by the fish kill that hit a portion of Taal lake.
Mirasol estimated that the damage will cost about P3 million.
In Banyaga, around 22 tons and in Barangay Bilibinwang nine tons were affected by the fish kill.
According to Mirasol, the fish kill was caused by the decrease in dissolved oxygen levels in the lake.
Most fish kills occur as a result of fluctuations in the natural environment with the most common cause being algal blooms and resulting water quality issues such as low oxygen or production of toxins.
The decrease of dissolved oxygen in the lake dropped to 0.80mg/liter and it had been observed in the past few days, she added.
Among the dead fish were newly hatched Tilapia fingerlings, Mirasol said.
The agriculture office has reminded the fishermen to keep a close monitor on their fish cages and advised them to harvest the bigger size to avoid the cages from being crowded.