Thousands of tamban fish wash ashore in Sarangani due to upwelling

Thousands of tamban fish were recently washed ashore in Barangay Tinoto in Maasim, Sarangani.

Residents immediately took advantage of this and strategized on how they could take home as many fish as they could.

However, while some were delighted with the “blessing” they received, others couldn’t help but worry if it was a bad omen.

In Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras,” Wednesday, Sarangani’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) said that there’s nothing to be concerned about, saying it may just be caused by an oceanographic phenomenon called upwelling.

“Dahil sa circulation mula doon sa ilalim ng dagat, umangat yung tubig doon sa ilalim papunta sa dalampasigan. Itong mga nutrients na naipon sa seabed. Na-attract ‘yung mga plankton na sila po ‘yung pagkain ng maliliit na isda. From there, naattract niya ‘yung mga lupoy,” PENRO-Sarangani head Shalimar Disomangcop said.

It is also said that it’s normal that there are numerous tamban fish in the province, especially since it is currently their season.

“Ito, ‘di lang nangyayari sa Sarangani Bay, nangyayari din sa Zamboanga Peninsula, Dipolog,” he said.

Tamban fish, also known as sardinella, is a type of fish abundant in tropical and subtropical seas where the water is warmer.

It has many recognized species, including the sardinella lemuru or tamban-tuloy, which are migratory species abundant in the waters of Mindanao.

There’s also the sardinella tawilis, which can only be found in Taal Lake. It is the only sardinella species that lives in freshwater.

—Carby Basina/CACM, GMA Integrated News