LOST HARVEST Dead fish are piled up for disposal after a massive fish kill struck fishponds in Binmaley, Pangasinan, causing significant losses. —Joey De Leon/Contributor
BINMALEY, PANGASINAN, Philippines — Instead of bringing their harvest to market, fish farmers in this town spent the past two days burying tons of dead “bangus” (milkfish) in freshly dug pits after a massive fish kill wiped out stocks in several villages.
“The fish mortality was widespread. Almost all of the cultured fish died during the wee hours, when dissolved oxygen levels in the ponds dropped,” said fishery technician Joey de Leon.
He said the fish gasped for air and eventually died when dissolved oxygen levels became critically low, especially in ponds without aerators or other intervention.
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