CITY OF SAN FERNANDO– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) assured consumers steady supply and stable prices of fish in local markets amid the looming El Niño phenomenon
BFAR National Director Demosthenes Escoto said the supply and prices of fish in local markets "remain stable at present."
But the bureau said it has set interventions and preparations for the dry spell phenomenon which the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said might emerge beginning June of this year and persist until early 2024.
"As per BFAR's latest price monitoring report, a kilo of bangus costs P120 to P160, while prices of tilapia range from P130 to P150 per kilo and local fresh galunggong at P200 per kilo," Escoto said.
He added that El Niño has positive and negative impacts on the local supply.
Escoto however assured that the BFAR has instituted mitigating measures to ensure that there will be enough food supply.
"El Niño may be favorable to archipelagic species, such as tuna and sardines, because these organisms prefer warmer temperatures. But it may have a negative effect on land-based aquaculture species like bangus and tilapia since lower water levels may also mean scarcity of dissolved oxygen in their habitat," he said.
Escoto encouraged local fishermen to follow good aquaculture practices and stocking an appropriate number of fingerlings in their cages so they would not lack oxygen, avoid fish kill.
He said BFAR will continue monitoring algae bloom for possible red tide occurrence, provide technical assistance on fish disease detection and treatment, intensify information, education, and communication campaigns among fish farmers, boost production of fish farming in cages in the mariculture parks, and ensure supply of fry and fingerlings.