No shortage of fish supply despite El Niño

CEBU CITY - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has assured the public that there is no shortage of fish supply in Central Visayas despite the El Niño weather phenomenon affecting the country.

BFAR Assistant Regional Director Allan Poquita said the most affected by the drought is those who are in aquaculture due to the lack of water supply.

He explained that less water in the fish pond might lead to oxygen deficiency which would result to fish kill. “We still have sufficient fish supply in our marine life resources,” Poquita said.

Poquita explained that during hot season, a lot of phytoplankton is produced in the ocean and this serves as food for fishes.

There are plenty of food for the fishes due to the penetration of the sunlight in deep waters that causes algae to bloom.

Poquita also reported the partial cost of damage in the impact of El Niño on fisheries production operations and said Bohol province registered P44.75 million loses and Siquijor with P1.72 million and P1.23 million in Cebu.

He said most of the damage hit the freshwater Tilapia, Bangus and seaweeds.

Mario Ruinata, BFAR Chief of Special Concerns Office, said they are still in the process of identifying vulnerable areas and the affected fisher-folk in provinces, and at the same time conducts information, communication and education campaign on the impact of El Niño to fisheries.

Ruinata said among their action plan includes the distribution of 5 million pieces of Tilapia fingerlings and 5 million pieces of Bangus fingerlings in the region.