The Philippine Coast Guard is monitoring a massive fish kill phenomenon in the waters off Barangay 61, Cavite City on Nov. 13.
Over 200 sacks of dead fish have been collected from the Cañacao Bayin Cavite City since Monday, prompting families to evacuate due tofoul odor, the PCG said.
The Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Cavite said most of the dead fish were initially identified as “tilapia.”
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources conducted area inspection and water sampling to determine the cause of the fish kill.
The PCG Marine Environmental Protection personnel also took water and dead fish samples for laboratory analysis.
Local villagers were surprised when dead and decaying fish coming from the Cañacao Bay started floating behind their houses, according to the GMA’s Unang Balita.
Jerry Rubia, a resident, said that 11 of them worked together to collect the dead fish, which were already mixed with garbage and mud.
Around 280 sacks of dead fish were piled up.
“I went down and collected dead fish. I immediately collected foursacks. I looked at the other side and saw plenty more. Even two trucks cannot collect all the fish,” Rubia said.
More than 50 families also decided to transfer to evacuation centers because of the bad smell coming from the dead fish, saying they could not sleep or eat.
“It really stinks, we can’t take it anymore. Others have stomach ache. The babies and little children are pitiful. Others have asthma, they can’t stand the stench,” Myla Tayum said.
Barangay Kagawad Ophelia Handi said the children have started catching colds and coughs, while senior citizens who have asthma had to be evacuated.
The livelihood of residents and about 20 fishermen were also affected for two days due to the fish kill.
Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya Pilipinas attributed the fish kill to the poor water quality, which it said was an indication of pollution from various industries and vessels in Manila Bay.