By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
LAOAG CITY—Fish cage operators in the four provinces of Region 1 has been warned of a possible fish kill due to the effects of El Niño which is likely to occur with the onset of summer.
Lilibeth L. Signey, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 1 said that as part of the El Niño mitigation plan for the fisheries sector, it is better for fish cage operators to partially harvest their stock to avoid fish kill.
Ms. Signey explained El Niño may have a negative impact on aquaculture since high temperatures hasten the decay of organic matter and promote plankton bloom that could result in a fish kill.
“We advised our fish cage operators to harvest those marketable size already to prevent further losses and to command a better price,” said Ms. Signey.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced weak El Niño conditions are already present in the tropical Pacific.
"Climate monitoring and analyses indicate that the unusually warm sea surface which started since November 2018 is expected to become a full-blown El Niño,” the state weather bureau said in an advisory.
Earlier, representatives from the BFAR Regional Field Office based in San Fernando City, La Union led by Ms. Signey conducted a quarterly fishery industry forum at the Hotel Asuncion in this city to present various lending programs which fisherfolk may want to take advantage of to improve their livelihood.