THE fish kill that occurred in Pond A at the South Road Properties in Cebu City was not caused by bacteria.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) 7 took samples of the pond’s water and the dead fish last week and examined these.
Test results confirmed that external factors like high water temperature and the presence of ammonia and phosphate were to blame for the die-off, said Bfar 7 Director Alfeo Piloton.
He said that when the temperature of the water at Pond A reached 36 degrees Celsius, the oxygen level dissolved, resulting in the shortage of oxygen that leads to fish kills.
Bfar 7 personnel also noticed a backhoe dumping soil in the pond, which could raise water acidity.
According to Piloton, the color of the water can determine whether it is contaminated or not. In the case of Pond A, its water is dark so it has been contaminated. Normally, the color of the pond is green due to the presence of phytoplankton.
He also clarified that Pond A is a catchment that was formed due to rain and the high tide, he said.
However, Piloton said it is also possible that water from canals had entered the pond during floods, thereby contaminating it.
Even though bacteria did not kill the fish in Pond A, he advised people against catching and eating the fish since the fish live in contaminated water. (KFD)