Fish kill reported in Cavite

Over 200 sacks of dead fish have been collected in Cañacao Bay in Cavite City since Monday, prompting families to evacuate due to foul smell.

In Barangay 62A, residents were surprised when dead and decaying fish coming from the Cañacao Bay started floating behind their houses, according to an Unang Balita report of James Agustin.

Jerry Rubia, a resident, said that 11 of them worked together to collect the dead fish, which were already mixed with garbage and mud. Around 280 sacks of dead fish were piled up.

“Bumaba ako ng silong, namulot ako ng isdang patay, naka-apat na sako agad ako. Bago paglingon ko dito sa lugar na ‘to, ang kapal. Kahit dalawang truck hindi kayang hakutin ‘yung isda,” Rubia said. 

(I went down and picked up dead fish. I immediately collected four sacks. I looked at the other side and saw plenty of dead fish. Even two trucks cannot collect all the fish.)

More than 50 families also decided to transfer to evacuation centers because of the bad smell coming from the dead fish, saying they could not sleep nor eat.

“Sobrang baho na po talaga hindi po kaya. ‘Yung iba nananakit na ‘yung tiyan. Saka kawawa ‘yung mga baby, mga batang maliliit pa po. ‘Yung iba may mga hika, may mga asthma, hindi nila kaya ‘yung amoy,” Myla Tayum said.

(It really stinks, we can't take it anymore. Others have stomach ache. The babies and little children are pitiful. Others have asthma, they can't stand the smell.)

Barangay Kagawad Ophelia Handi said children have started getting colds and coughs, while senior citizens who have asthma had to be evacuated.

Livelihood of residents and about 20 fishermen were also affected for two days due to the fish kill.

Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya Pilipinas attributed the fish kill to the poor water quality, which is an indication of pollution from various industries and vessels in Manila Bay.

“Batay sa inisyal na pagsusuri ng mga mangingisda sa karatig-bayan ng Cavite City, ang naganap na fish kill ay bunga ng tinatawag na ‘alig’ o masamang kalidad ng tubig,” the group said in a statement.

(Based on the initial analysis of the fishermen in the neighboring town of Cavite City, the fish kill that occurred is a result of 'alig' or bad water quality.)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), meanwhile, said it is now monitoring the fish kill in the waters off Cavite City.

The Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Cavite said the majority of the dead fish were initially identified as "tilapia."

The CGSS Cavite had reported the incident to the local government unit and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for appropriate action.

PCG said BFAR on Monday conducted area inspection and water sampling to determine the cause of the incident. Personnel from the PCG Marine Environmental Protection also took water and dead fish samples for laboratory analysis.

The collected dead fish, meanwhile, were turned over to the garbage collector truck of Cavite City and were transported to Material Recovery Facilities for proper disposal.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News