River pollution from fishpens blamed for fishkill in Dagupan

DAGUPAN CITY— River pollution, high water temperatures and lack of oxygen have been reported as the main causes of fish kills in the province by several fishpond owners.

An agriculture official said though only a few fishponds have already reported fish kill incidents, still the fish kills were due to rising water temperatures. Reports of fishkill came from Tocok, parts of Lucao in Daupan and Pugaro, the source added.

Earlier, 700 fishponds owners, operators and fisherfolks in this city aired their fears of massive fishkill due to pollution and siltation of the rivers.

Alfredo Dawana, president of the Fishpond Owners, Operators, Fisherfolk Association of Dagupan, Inc. (FOOFADCI) said he smelled “something fishy in the management of Dagupan City’s rivers and tributaries by the city agriculture office, particularly in the proliferation of illegal fish pens under the watch of the City Agricultural Office.

"The (erstwhile) clean river of the city is being polluted by the use of fish cages and the continued operation of several illegal fish pens in the city’s river," Dawana said.

Dawana and his group made a river tour yesterday (Thursday) where they found some floating dead fish.

This, despite his claim that the river was cleared of several dead fish before their river tour.

The City Agriculture Office (CAO) claimed that rising temperatures caused the fishkill, which Dawana readily debunked citing that CAO continues to protect some illegal fish pen owners.

Meanwhile, the province is hosting a three-day national fish congress aimed at enhancing production and upgrading the local economy at the Sison Auditorium here on April 27-29.

Eduardo Maramba, president of the Philippine Fish Producers Association. Inc. said innovative aquaculture practices that will contribute to the economic wealth of the country is the focus of the congress. The congress’ theme is: “Enhancing Aquaculture Practices for Sustained Industry Development.”

Congress speakers include: former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Senators Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chairman of the Senate Local government committee, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

De Venecia and Mayor Belen Fernandez have lauded the group for leading efforts to remove illegal fishpens in the city.