THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday reported fish kill at fishponds in Agoncillo, Batangas affecting at least 29 tons of tilapia amounting to P3.2 million.

BFAR 4-A Director Sammy Malvas said the fish kill was due to low levels of dissolved oxygen.

“We conducted a water quality inspection, and we observed low levels of dissolved oxygen in the sampling sites in Agoncillo, Laurel and even in Talisay,” Malvas said.

The acceptable level of dissolved oxygen for marine waters is at 5 milligrams per liter (mg/L).

Malvas added that at least 43 operators of fishponds in Agoncillo, Batangas were affected by the fish kill.

“The low dissolved oxygen usually happens when there is a change in the weather condition. Last week, after the sunny weather, we experienced rains,” Malvas explained.

Malvas added that the affected tilapia will be disposed immediately as he discouraged consumption of the fish mortalities to prevent risk to public health.

“The affected tilapia should not be sold in the market. We will bury the dead fishes,” Malvas said.

Malvas assured that the fish kill will not affect the supply of tilapia in the local market.

“Actually, we don’t consider this as fish kill, we call it mortality because of the small volume,” he said.

Batangas supplies tilapia in Metro Manila. It is the biggest producer of tilapia from freshwater cages and ranks next to Pampanga in terms of production of farmed tilapia.

Based on the Department of Agriculture’s market watch in Metro Manila on Wednesday, August 11, retail price of tilapia ranges from P110 to P150 per kilo.