Fishkill hits two P’sinan towns

BOLINAO, Pangasinan – Bangus (milkfish) growers in Bolinao and Anda towns in Pangasinan scrambled for an emergency harvest Thursday morning following another fishkill.

A fishkill last week affected 500 tons of bangus, Bolinao Mayor Arnold Celeste said.

Celeste said Barangays Luna, Pilar and Luciente 1 and 2, which are nearest to the Cacquiputan Channel, were the latest to be affected by the fishkill.

“Many were dead, but many were also saved due to forced harvest,” he said.

Celeste said bangus growers observed that the coastal waters turned “coffee-like” after it rained in the area. “This possibly contributed to loss of oxygen for the bangus,” he said.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 1 Director Nestor Domenden said an investigation to determine the cause of the fishkills is underway. – Eva Visperas