800 tons of fish die, rot on Philippine fish farms

More than 800 tons of fish have died and rotted on fish farms in a lake near Taal volcano south of Manila, with authorities blaming it on a sudden temperature drop. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

TALISAY (Philippines) - MORE than 800 tons of fish have died and rotted on fish farms in a lake near Taal volcano south of Manila, with authorities blaming it on a sudden temperature drop.

The massive fish deaths started late last week but have eased. Officials have banned the sale of the rotting fish, which are being buried by the truckload in Talisay and three other towns in Batangas province, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources official Rose del Mundo said on Sunday.

The deaths are unrelated to recent signs of restiveness in Taal volcano, which is surrounded by the lake where many villagers have grown milkfish and tilapia - staple foods for many Filipinos, officials said. The volcano and lake are a popular tourist draw.

Talisay agricultural officer Zenaida Macatangay said an initial investigation showed the deaths may have been caused by the temperature change as the rainy season set in last week after a scorching summer, which also depleted the lake's oxygen levels.

Schools of fish were seen swimming in circles before they floated dead to the surface in huge numbers. The deaths have occurred in the past at summer's end but in much smaller numbers, Talisay Mayor Zenaida Mendoza said. Some Taal lake areas turned white due to the massive numbers of dead milk-coloured fish. Workers covered their noses with their hands or clothing on Sunday as they scooped up the rotting fish and placed them into sacks.

'Many were sad and devastated because they invested a lot in these fish cages,' Ms Mendoza told The Associated Press by telephone. More than 400 tons of milkfish have died in Talisay alone since Friday in 84 out of about 1,000 fish pens - lake areas about half the size of a basketball court that are fenced off by bamboo poles and nets. Damage has been estimated at 33 million pesos (S$941,000), Ms Mendoza said. About 400 tons more have died in the other towns. -- AP