The City Agriculturist Office assured the public that recent incidents of fish kill in some rivers in Davao weres only “isolated” and should not affect the supply and demand in the market.
CAO Officer-in-charge Leo Brian Leuterio, said on Monday that they are closely monitoring with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to ensure that the current fishery and agriculture situation in the region is stable.
“We are closely monitoring with the different agencies in ensuring proactive measures will be implemented,” Leuterio said.
In September this year, thousands of fishes were seen floating at the Seaside, Bago Aplaya in Davao.
Most of the fishes that were floating dead were hito, bangus, tilapia and some crustaceans such as crabs.
Residents suspected that the cause was due to poisoning possibly from toxic wastes of a factory located nearby.
CAO already conducted a water testing and a fish sampling to determine the cause of the fish kill.
Also on the same month, there were reports that some ‘galunggong’ (round scad) fishes were positive of formalin contamination.
The said agency had conducted series of laboratory test and had confirmed negative.
Meanwhile, CAO together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and BFAR recently celebrated the Fish Conservation Week.
The celebration aims to intensify awareness on the need to conserve and protect fisheries and aquatic resources.
Leuterio assured that there is no impending fish shortage with the demand expected to rise in the Christmas season.
