Another fishkill incident recorded in Ilocos Sur

About a thousand Tilapia fishes were found floating dead along Mestizo River in Barangay Callaguip, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.

"After collecting the dead fishes, we immediately buried them to prevent the possibility of these fishes being sold to public markets," said Benny Saraos of Ilocos Sur's Bureau of Fisheries and Acquatic Resources.

Saraos said that it was the second time this month that a fishkill incident happened. The amount of damage was already more or less PhP 25,000.

He assumed that the current fishkill incident might be the effect of decomposed wastes carried by flowing waters to Mestizo River containing ammonia substances causing intoxication.

However, the local government unit of Caoayan were directed to enforce a sonification process for the fish cages along Mestizo River to maintain the smooth flow of oxygen and avoid the probable recurrence of fishkill in the area. — ARA