Taal Lake water quality has improved

The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday said the water quality in Taal Lake continues to improve weeks after Taal Volcano first erupted.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said that based on tests conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) from January 14 to 30, 2020, the level of dissolved oxygen in Taal Lake is now below critical level.

Taal Lake looks serene in this photo taken on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020 from the lakeshore town of Mataasnakahoy in Batangas. The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020 said the water quality in Taal Lake continues to improve weeks after Taal Volcano first erupted. Howie Severino

Dissolved oxygen is essential to fish growth and survival.

Sulfide level is within normal level but ammonia is still within critical level.

The DA has advised fish cage operators that they can now resume feeding their fish stocks in Taal Lake.

BFAR 4-A Director Sammy Malvas however warned fish cage owners not to overfeed the fish to avoid accumulation of toxic ammonia. —KG, GMA News