BERTRAND ALDOUS L.

SANTILLAN
ENS 201 TV2 (Thursday 9am)
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Reaction/Report Paper on Taal Lake Field Trip

Last November 6, 2016, our ENS 201 Thursday Class went to Talisay, Batangas to
conduct a social survey among fish farmers in Taal Lake. The study, which tackles on the
knowledge, attitudes, and practices of fish cage owners and operators, is a research project of
another class of our professor, Dr. Mark Arboleda. We were there to assist them in their data
gathering.

We left Los Baos, Laguna at around 5:30am in a convoy of three vans and with a fine,
sunny weather. Along the way, our van got separated from the other two vans as our driver
thought we are going another way. But after some U-turn on the STAR Expressway, we were
able to reunite with the group (and our driver scolded). We managed to arrive in Talisay before
7am. Our first itinerary was in a fish port in Brgy. Subic Ilaya in Agoncillo town for a
complimentary breakfast sponsored by a fish cage owner who is a friend of one of our
classmates. They gave a brief overview of the Taal Lake and treated us for a tour on their fish
cages. We were also accompanied by some BFAR staff who are monitoring the water quality
with their million peso worth equipment. We were provided with life jackets and accommodated
in a boat.
 I was amazed by the beauty of the Lake as it was my first time to be there. The water
was so calm, no waves, and the mountains surrounding the lake were just perfect. I was so glad
the weather was fine. However, when I inspected the water, I saw several dead tilapia floating. I
thought of reasons why it was so, because it is unusual for me seeing dead fishes just floating in
the water. Maybe it is normal there, while I am a first timer. In our place in Tarlac, we do not
have a lake or large fish farms, and even in other aquatic places Ive been to I seldom see
several dead fish floating in the water.

At a fish cage, we were able to witness the harvesting of tilapia. While we were
watching, we saw how the fish were in stampede as the net full of them was concertedly drawn
up by a group of fishermen. Then in a while some tilapia died. I realized then the tilapia are
weak because they easily died from the bumping. I asked one of my classmates why it was so,
and she said that because they are just cultured fish, they were really not able to develop very
well. They were bred for the market, and the fishermen need them as soon as they reach their
adult size.
We went back to the port after a few hours, happy with the short experience and
sightseeing. Then a student from the class who has the research project gave us the copies of
the survey questionnaire. He did not orient us anymore. That was when my classmates got a
sort of pissed off. Actually, our class really had no idea of what to do; we were not oriented
even before we left Los Baos, or even days before. We organized our own itinerary, sought for
vans, the copy of the questionnaire was given just the night before the trip. So we had to study
the questionnaire inside the van while we were going to our survey sites. Then, they just
dropped us at the survey sites and gave us a list of those who we will be interviewed. We were
really complaining.
While in the field, the people were not accommodating us. They were busy waiting for
the fight of Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas. We distributed ourselves in small groups. Our
group was accompanied by a Barangay Officer and we went to the farthest location. There the
men really were in front of their television watching the boxing bouts. They told us to come back
at 4pm. We went to a private fish port, the guard did not allow us to enter. We were only able to
interview one respondent, and she was a former fish cage owner.
It was only after the Pacquiao-Vargas fight that we were able to interview people. After
some asking and searching in the neighborhood, I was able to find an interviewee a young
adult fish operator and his young wife. They just had a baby. I introduced myself and the
purpose of the interview and went directly with the questionnaire. One thing that had an impact
on me was the question on why there were fish kills. The husband said he doesnt know, but he
said that it happens mostly in May or summer. I asked him how long he has been doing his job
as fish cage operator, he said 15 years.
We were only able to interview one person each in our group. We have continued
searching for respondents but the neighborhood said they were already in the lake. We were
also tired. It was 3pm when we left the place and headed to the BFAR Research Center in Taal,
Batangas. There we saw some fish being experimented. We also had a side trip to the Taal
Cathedral, just to enjoy the trip.
 When we got back in Los Baos, I was really curious of why fish kill were prevalent
during summer season. I researched and found that maybe, the dissolved oxygen is
responsible. During summer season, the temperature of the water gets high, and less oxygen is
being dissolved in water. Add the scenario that the lake has a stable water, there is no aeration
unlike in streams or rivers to allow for the dissolution of oxygen. So I think that the lack of
dissolved oxygen might have caused the fish to die. To prove this, I need data on the DO of Taal
Lake during summer. Unfortunately, I was not able to ask for this when we were with the BFAR
staff. Unfortunately, too, I was not able to explain this to my interviewee.
I realized from the survey we did that the fish operators lack the training and education
on the industry that they are into. I think what is just important for them is that they harvest, they
sell, they gain money from what they are doing, they are able to feed their families. However, I
think that the government should intervene by educating the fishermen so that they will know
better and from that they can do something to improve their work. I believe that if the village
fishermen became more knowledgeable in what they do, they can improve their production,
improve their business and profit, and make their industry sustainable.