Taal Lake Fishkill causes P53 million losses

Fishkill has hit Taal Lake in Batangas anew. The worth of damage from the recent fishkill has now reached P53 million according to authorities, as reported by Sun Star.

Dead bangus floating on Taal | Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN

Tons of dead milk fish (bangus) were seen floating on Taal Lake on Saturday. According to reports, the fishkill affected 5 towns and a city in Batangas province.

The incident said to have started early this week.

According to a May 25 GMA News report, residents in Balete, Batangas blamed the waste disposal activities of local piggeries for the fishkill. The report added that high concentration of nitrite and ammonia (toxic substances found in animal wastes) were found by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources when the water in affected areas in Balete were tested.

Meanwhile, Talisay Municipal Agriculturist Zenaida Macatangay pointed out climate change as well as the onset of the rainy season as the reasons for the incident, according to a report by ABS-CBN.

In 2008, P3.25 million worth of cultured tilapia in two villages of Talisay town were destroyed in a fish kill incident in Taal Lake.