World · Philippines Bureau
Dagupan fish farmers suffer major losses as mysterious die-off strikes bangus pens
Thousands of kilograms of milkfish perished in Dagupan City over the weekend, dealing a significant blow to local aquaculture operations. A barangay official in Pugaro reported burying massive quantities of the prized bangus as the fish showed signs of respiratory distress.
LSN Philippines ·
DAGUPAN CITY, PANGASINAN — A large-scale fish kill devastated aquaculture operations in Dagupan City on Sunday, with local farmers reporting the loss of thousands of kilograms of milkfish at the critical harvest stage. Aristotle de Guzman, a barangay councilor in Pugaro, said he was forced to bury approximately 2,500 kilograms of bangus from his three fish pens, each containing fish weighing around 500 grams that were nearing market readiness.
The fish began exhibiting signs of distress, gasping heavily in the water before succumbing to what farmers suspect may be related to water quality degradation or other environmental factors. De Guzman's account underscored the emotional and economic toll the incident inflicted on aquaculture workers who depend on successful harvests for their livelihoods.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of Dagupan's thriving fish farming sector to sudden environmental shifts. Authorities have not yet released official findings regarding the cause of the die-off. Local fisheries officials are expected to investigate the incident to determine whether disease, oxygen depletion, chemical contamination, or other factors were responsible for the deaths.