LC agri exec denies fish kill report in Gabu

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—Laoag Agriculturist Oscar Recta denied that there was a fish kill incident at Brgy. Gabu in this city.

He however admitted that one fisherman reported a possible fish kill incident with the presence of brown sea weeds, known locally as “aragan” and the very high water temperature.

Mr. Recta stressed that this was not confirmed and no fish kill occurred in the city.

In their investigation, the City Agriculture Office, accompanied by Gabu fisher folks visited the barangay’s fishing area. They said the fish kill report turned out to be “negative”; they however observed the presence of too many of the local sea weeds as well as “lumot” [moss].

In view of the result, Mr. Recta advised the Gabu fisher folks not to overfeed their fish as this is one of main reason for the fast growth of seaweeds that could eventually stop the water flow.

He also told the fisher folks to immediately harvest their fish when it is time to avoid overcrowding in the fish pens.

The Gabu fisher folks grow bangus [milkfish], Malaga [spinefoot] and tilapia.

“Siguro no saan nga naagapan ken saan da nag-harvest a dagus ket talaga a nga adut natay [It’s possible that if they have not harvested immediately, many fish could have died]”, Mr. Recta said.

Relative to this, Mr. Recta said his office also instructed the fisher folks to observe the distance between cages and the number of fingerlings in every cage to avoid overpopulation as this is the primary cause of fish kill.