Business · Philippines Bureau
Mindanao fish farmers urged to act now against looming El Niño threat
Aquaculture operators in Northern Mindanao have been warned to implement preventive measures immediately as a powerful El Niño weather pattern threatens the region's fish farming industry. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources urged farmers not to delay action until widespread fish kills occur.
LSN Philippines ·
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Fisheries officials are calling on aquaculture operators throughout Northern Mindanao to take swift action to protect their stocks from the anticipated impacts of a strengthening El Niño phenomenon.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 10 (BFAR-10) issued the advisory Wednesday, cautioning that rising water temperatures and fluctuating conditions could devastate farmed fish populations if left unaddressed. "Don't wait for fish kills before acting," the agency warned in its statement to the farming community.
Elevated water temperatures associated with El Niño conditions pose a significant risk to aquaculture operations, reducing dissolved oxygen levels and creating stress conditions that can lead to mass mortality events among farmed species. BFAR-10 emphasized that early intervention strategies are essential for minimizing potential losses.
The advisory comes as the region braces for what meteorologists have characterized as a particularly intense El Niño cycle. Aquaculture farmers in Northern Mindanao are being encouraged to monitor water quality parameters closely and implement cooling and aeration techniques where feasible to maintain optimal conditions for their stocks during the critical months ahead.