SURIGAO STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

“IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE OF FISH KILL

IN LAKE MAINIT”

A Investigatory Project
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirement
In
People and Earth Eco-System

Acquiatan, Franc Jerald

Dagohoy, Marc Dave
Silvosa, Almer
Suangco, Junrix
Casucot, Julas
Hingpit, Syrose
Ybanez, Resty
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The study aimed to identify the problem caused by fish kill in lake mainit to know if it is a
natural or a man made.

Nevertheless., this study wouldn’t be possible without the help of fisherman and government
employee that are assign to watch over lake mainit also to the people that gave us there
knowledge and useful information about the problem occurring in Lake Mainit.
We also would like to thank Mr. Cervantes for giving us the outline and instruction about the
SIP that will be conducted.

Furthermore, the researcher would like to thank our classmate who shared there own
information and knowledge during casual talk and discussions.

Most of all to God our father , the source of all strength and wisdom. For without his
unfaltering love and guidance this study would never be realized.

Dedication

This labor and knowledge is dedicated to our beloved and supportive parents. To our very
patient and understanding teacher Mr. Cervantes. Above all, to our maker, God Almighty.

Table of Contents

Chapter I: INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

B. Statement of the Problem
C. Hypothesis
D. Significance of the Study
E. Scope and Limitations
 F. Definition of Terms

Chapter II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Chapter III: METHODOLOGY

A. Method of Research
B. Method of Collecting Data Materials Procedure
C. Sampling Design (Pictures)

Chapter IV: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS and INTERPRETATION OF DATA

(Presentation of Data (tabular, graphical, analysis & interpretation of data))

Chapter V: GENERALIZATION

A. Conclusion/ Generalizattion

ABSTRACT

There are 59-70 lakes in the Philippines. With the exception of Laguna de Bay and Lake
Taal, little is known about Philippine lakes although they contribute as much as 15% to the total
annual fisheries production of the country(http://hdl.handle.net/10862/820. But recently there
are reported incidents that fishes in Lake Mainit are suddenly dying or what they call fish kill.
Tilapia and carp have been found floating dead in Lake Mainit since a month ago. There are
reported that a lot of mining activity surrounding Lake Mainit , chemicals thrown into the river
and garbage dumping everywhere or it can also because of changing of weather getting more
hot during summer days that can cause under water change in temperature that can affect the
habitat of the fish. Darwin Brain Lawas, a marine biologist of Green Mindanao Association said
fish growth usually requires 5 to 6 ppm of dissolved oxygen. “Dissolved oxygen levels below 3
ppm are stressful to most aquatic organisms. Levels below 2 ppm will not support fish at all,” he
said. There are lots of causes why dissolved oxygen gets low in a body of water. He
cited sudden change of water temperature, purity level, algal bloom, soil erosion and siltation.
Dissolved Oxygen is one of the major indicators of water quality. Just as humans need oxygen
to breathe, aquatic life needs sufficient amounts of oxygen dissolved in water to survive.
Dissolved oxygen depletion can occur for several naturally occurring reasons, most of which
are highly preventable or treatable .The primary cause of oxygen depletion in a water body is
from excessive algae and phytoplankton growth driven by high levels of phosphorus and
nitrogen. As algae and phytoplankton die, the process of decomposition also requires significant
amounts of dissolved oxygen. If these blooms are dense or a die off occurs suddenly, the
impacts to fish can be more severe and cause fish-kills. Temperature also plays a prominent role
in dissolved oxygen levels because temperature establishes a maximum oxygen-holding capacity
of water. High water temperatures (86°F or higher) reduces this holding capacity. Fish are cold
blooded animals which means their body temperature and activities are regulated by the water
they inhabit and warm water increases the fish’s consumption of oxygen by accelerating their
metabolic rate. Aside from temperature, weather also is a contributor to dissolved oxygen
levels within a resource. On cloudy days, the production of oxygen through photosynthesis is
slowed or halted. Additionally, still and windless days do not allow circulation of the water in a
resource and limits surface diffusion of atmospheric oxygen. During the hot summer months,
deeper ponds experience stratification as the water near the surface warms and becomes less
dense than the cooler water near the bottom. As the season progresses, the cool water near
the bottom becomes stagnant and depleted of oxygen. As the top layer of water cools from
either a heavy rain storm or a cold front the water then mixes or “turnsover” with the deep,
oxygen deficient water and a pond wide oxygen depletion can occur and harm fish populations,
possibly even causing die-offs.
 The fish kill has affected the livelihood of hundreds of fisherfolk who depend on the lake
for their livelihood. This Investigative Project will give us information of what maybe the caused
of this fish kill, is it natural caused of climate change or some illegal activity in the area.

INTRODUCTION

Lakes are defined as inland bodies of water with distinct basins or depressions that are
formed by the natural sinking and rising of land. There were 59 lakes inventoried in the country
according to the Philippine Census Atlas of 1940. Bravo (1970) listed an additional nine lakes in
areas of 5-16 ha for a total of 68 lakes.
Lakes have various uses and benefits to man. Mainly exploited for their fisheries, lakes in the
Philippines have contributed an estimated 15% to the annual total fish production of the
country (Fellizar 1995). Aside from fisheries, lakes have also served as transport routes and
sources of irrigation supply, hydropower and cooling water for industries. Laguna de Bay, the
country's largest lake, is now being tapped as source of domestic water supply for Metro
Manila.
Lake Mainit is the fourth largest lake in the Philippines, and the deepest in the country
(LMDA 2005). Twenty-eight river tributaries contribute to the lake and flows into Butuan Bay
(De Guzman et al 2008). The lake is divided almost equally shared between the provinces of
Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte in Northeastern Mindanao. The lake is known in the
region for its rich fish resources. About 31 barangays in the four-lakeshore municipalities are
dependent on the lake for food and livelihood (LMDA 2005).
The lake is the haven of several commercial species of fish that are a source of livelihood of
fishermen around the lakeshore. There are about 12 species of fish identified in the lake (Lewis,
1973), seven of whic h are commercially exploited by fishermen (Gracia, 1981). Some of them
are either migratory or were introduced by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) or by some private individuals to augment the fish stocks in the lake. The most
dominant fish in the lake in terms of fish catch are the gobies (pidianga) which constitute about
63.3% of the total daily catch (Gracia, 1981). The rest of the catches are distributed among the
other groups such as tilapia, mudfish, catfish, common carp, eel and some miscellaneous species.
But recently early these year Tilapias and carps have been dying in the fourth largest lake in the
country. The fish kill has affected the livelihood of hundreds of fisher folk that depend on the
lake. Citing the town lacks technical capability, Mayor Ramon Mondanao has asked
nongovernment organizations to investigate what caused the massive fish kill in Lake Mainit.
The mayor said it would be better to have an independent body investigate the fish kill. He said
he is hoping NGOs would help while he is searching for institutions that can do laboratory
analysis of the samples.
Townsfolk including the mayor himself suspected that the fish kill was caused by mining
activities upstream. Fisher folk like Rolando Zamora of Poblacion in Mainit town recalled the
worst fish kill in the lake occurred during the operations of Surigao Resources Consolidated
(Suricon) in the 1970s to the early 1990s.
The mayor and the people around the lake have been suspecting that the operation of the
mining firm, Greenstone Resources Corporation, have caused the fish kill. A subsidiary of Red5
Limited, an Australian-based gold exploration and mining company, Greenstone is currently
mining gold and silver at the abandoned mine site of the Surigao Consolidated Mining Company,
Inc. (Suricon) in Barangay Siana in Mainit. Fisherfolk said Greenstone’s operations have polluted
Magpayang River, the runoff from which settles in the lake.

Zamora said it was worse then because almost all of the fish died. He said he was
wondering why the tilapias got so weak that one could easily catch them. He said they noticed
that the gills of the fish turned white as if they were hit by cyanide. He was also wondering why
it was the big ones and not the small ones that were affected. Most fisherfolk in Alegria and
Mainit towns have not gone fishing since the fish kill hit the lake. Prices of fish like tilapia went
down to 40 pesos per kilo.“Most people would no longer eat the fish because they are afraid of
getting poisoned too,” Zamora said.Thefish kill also happened in Kitcharao and Jabonga towns
in Agusan del Norte which are also along the lake, affecting the lives of many fisherfolk.
This Investigative Projects aims to conduct an investigation to know what maybe the cause of
fish kill in Lake Mainit that affect the livelihood of people living in the surrounding area of Lake
Mainit.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Generally, this investigatory project aims to find out what really cause the fish kill in Lake
Mainit. Furthermore, some questions may follow as:

1. What are the probable cause of fish kill in Lake Mainit?

2. What is the effect of this fish kill to the livelihood of people living in the area?
 3. What are the action taken to solve this problem?
4. Is it safe for people to eat the fish that have been weaken already or dead?
5. What can we do to protect our environment?

HYPOTHESIS
In accordance to the problems stated above, here are the researcher’s hypotheses about
the topic:

1. There are a lot of mining companies around the area of the lake that disposes there
waste on the rivers. And also
2. Most fisherfolk in Alegria and Mainit towns have not gone fishing since the fish kill hit
the lake. Prices of fish like tilapia went down to 40 pesos per kilo.“Most people would
no longer eat the fish because they are afraid of getting poisoned.
3. Citing the town lacks technical capability, Mayor Ramon Mondanao has asked already
nongovernment organizations to help investigate what caused the massive fish kill in
Lake Mainit.
4. BFAR already warn people not to eat weaken or dead fish in Lake Mainit. According to
theme it is not safe because it may have cause food poisoning.

5. The Mayor already taken some action to the mining operation around the area and
making sure they dispose all there waste properly. And to the natural cause because of
global warming the mayor ask for people to be more responsible to there garbage and
cooperate in keeping Lake Mainit clean and safe for people to enjoy.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The researchers have made this investigative project to educate people and as well as
we student, so we could have idea on whats happening to our environment. Since, our
environment is at stake because of pollutions. One of these pollution is on river, lakes and even
ocean. If you haven’t notice our planet is deteriorating because of this. And one of the few
causes of water pollution are the chemical and wastage thrown by big companies and even
garbage plastic and over harmful elements that can harm our river, lake and oceans. By giving
knowledge and investigate the cause of fish kill which is our topic we will have an idea on what
cause of it and we can have our own way to help our environment to survive in this polluted
world we have.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

This investigative project was conducted in Mainit Surigao del Norte during our first
semester school year 2019-2020. Interview and question were taken from individuals living near
the lake and fishermen as well as government employee. These individuals are chosen as the
prospect as they have been permanently living in Mainit Surigao del Norte. The nature of the
investigation used is a simple interview with each individual. And it would only limit to people
living near Mainit Lake.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Words which are used extensively in this study have been defined for better
understanding of prospective readers. These terms are as follows:

Pollution – the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that
has harmful or poisonous effects.
Mainit Lake – Lake Mainit is the fourth largest lake in the Philippines, and the deepest in the
country (LMDA 2005). Located in Mindanao, Province of Mainit Surigao del Norte.

Mining – is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from earth, usually
from an ore, body, lode, vein, seam,reef or placer deposit.

BFAR – Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, is an agency of the Philippine
Government under the Department of Agriculture responsible for the development,
improvement, law enforcement, management and conservation of the Philippines fisheries and
aquatic resources.

CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This investigative project cited article which are relevant to the present investigation. It
is composed of related literature and investigation both local and foreign, which contain facts
and information on the investigative project at hand. It also provide explanation and logical
connections between previous investigation and the present work.

FOREIGN LITERATURE

Fish kill is defined by the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage

(1998) as “a significant and sudden death of fish or other aquatic animals such as fish, crabs
or prawns. This event is characterized by a large number of aquatic animals dying over a short
time, usually in a clearly defined area.” Jacinto (2011) used the above definition to describe

According to Helfrich and Smith (2000), fish dies due to a variety of reasons. It can be
categorized into natural and unnatural causes. As they said, “fish may die of old age, starvation,
body injury, stress, suffocation, water pollution, diseases, parasites, predation, toxic algae,
severe weather, andotherreasons.”However,ifhugenumberoffisheswere found lifeless floating on
water over periods of time, it is just imperative to determine the cause of the occurrence.
Helfrich and Smith (2000) pointed out that fishkills occur because of oxygen depletion which is
caused by ”(1) the die- off of a large algae bloom, (2) the decay of water weeds after treatment
with a herbicide, (3) the turnover of oxygen-poor bottom waters following a thunderstorm,
and (4) the runoff of livestock waste and other organics after a heavy rain.”

Furthermore, in a study conducted by Rhode Island .Department of Environmental

Management (2003), the lack of oxygen was considered as the direct cause of fish kill along the
Greenwich Bay. The absence of oxygen caused aquatic animals to get suffocated. However, the
study also emphasized that this condition comes with broad and complex factors. Such factors
include natural phenomenon like rain, wind, temperature, geology, and hydrodynamics.
Moreover, pollution coming from different sources such as sewages, water run-offs,
groundwater flows from polluted areas, and discharges from vessels was also stressed as huge
factors in fish kills.

Fish kills or mass mortalities of fish can be defined as a sudden and significant death of
fish. This is characterized by a large number of fish dying over a short period of time within the
defined area. The number of fish killed in specific instances can range from a few thousands to
more than one million .For example, on 6 January 2011, 2 million fish died as a result of cold
stress (Maryland, USA), and red tide was responsible for the death of 22 million fish alone in
the Gulf of Mexico, USA in 1986. Red tide is a toxic algal bloom caused by certain marine algae
(dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium breve) that turns the sea water red.
(https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_were_the_causes_of_fish_kills_in_your_lakes_rivers
_coastal_waters_and_oceans2)

Globally fish kills is most frequently linked to natural causes such as ecological hypoxia
(low dissolved oxygen) or anoxia (no or zero dissolved oxygen) , harmful algal blooms (toxic
and non-toxic freshwater cyanobacteria, marine dinoflagellates), diseases, extreme or abrupt
changes of temperature (e.g. winter fish kills, summer fish kills), salinity or turbidity; floods,
black water events (flood events that give the water column a dark tea colour), overturns of
lakes and upwelling of the oceans . Minor and occasional natural causes of fish kills are volcanic
eruptions, earthquakes, and meteorite. Human activities are also responsible for a number of
fish kills, for examples, accidental spills (e.g. oil), runoff and drainage discharge of pesticides and
herbicides from agriculture farm lands into water bodies. In addition, mass killing in the name of
recreational fishing may also be responsible for significant fish kills in some countries. Global
reviews reveals that most fish kills are related to oxygen depletion or low level of oxygen in
water . Water with low oxygen level could cause suffocation of fish resulting death. Oxygen
depletion in water bodies can occur due to algae die-offs, weather related ‘turnovers’ of lakes
water, surface run-off of organic materials into water bodies, disturbance of sediments
containing large quantities of aquatic vegetation or with excess nutrient loads, low water levels,
and high temperatures etc. Possible signs of fish kills due to oxygen depletion are fish gasping at
the surface, sluggish movement, larger fish die earlier than smaller fish of the same species, kill
occur at night or in the early morning. In marine environment, toxic algal blooms poison fish
directly or indirectly via bioaccumulation through progressive trophic levels, whereas nontoxic
blooms cause fish mortalities through anoxia or hydrogen sulphide poisoning arising from algal
decay. (http://www.sydneybashi-bangla.com/Articles/GolamKibria_Global%20fish%20kill-
30%20jan%202011.pdf)

River water temperatures due to climate change are projected to increase in a number
of rivers (e.g. USA-Mississippi, Colorado, and Mackenzie basins; Europe- Rhine, Danube, and
Rhone basins; Eastern China- Yangtze; Australia-Murray- Darling). Freshwater organisms such
as fish could be stressed in rivers with high water temperature. The rise of temperatures would
cause a decrease in oxygen supply (since oxygen solubility in water is inversely related with
temperature) and may cause more fish kills in the wild. In general, dissolved oxygen
concentrations of 5 mg/L or more are suitable for most aquatic organisms and concentrations
below 2 mg/L is hypoxic. In addition, rise of water temperature may enhance proliferation of
both marine and freshwater harmful algae causing water quality problems including fish kills.
Toxicity of contaminants- persistent organic pollutants such as pesticides (atrazine, endosulfan),
trace metals (copper, mercury) may be enhanced with increasing temperatures affecting fish and
other wildlife living in the aquatic environment. At higher temperatures the metabolism of
aquatic organisms is increased and oxygen concentration is reduced in water and therefore, the
rate of water inflow into the animal can increase to extract more oxygen, which can increase
the entrance of dissolved chemical pollutant(s) into the body.
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261216635_Climate_Change_and_Chemicals_Enviro
nmental_and_Biological_Aspects )

Fish kills can also occur when water has a low pH. Acid spills, acid rain, runoff or
industrial effluent, drainage of acid soils can lower pH of water. A pH below 4 is lethal.
Nitrogen such as unionised ammonia (NH3) is highly toxic to fish. Potential sources of ammonia
are organic pollution, fertilisers, overcrowding of fish and industrial effluents. Weather related
disturbances or turnovers could bring anoxic (lack of oxygen) bottom water and decaying
materials of lakes into the water column and release large quantities of hydrogen sulphide
(H2S). Fish kills due to H2S poisoning include lager fish and fish with brown/chocolate gill
filaments. The possible signs of H2S in water include an odour (rotten egg), black, decaying
organic matter on the wind ward shore. Provides an overview of fish kills in the world
freshwaters, brackish waters and coastal waters including lakes, ponds, creek, flood plains,
billabong, rivers etc. (https://www.lenntech.com/aquatic/acids-alkalis.htm)

Fish kills event is an indicator of environmental stress, a declining of aquatic ecosystems

health, and water quality problems. Furthermore, fish kills events provide useful information on
the spatial and temporal distributions of pollutants (e.g. nutrients, pesticides, trace metals, oils)
and problems (e.g. hypoxia, anoxia) in aquatic environment. It is one of the most visible
evidence that water quality has been degraded and as a consequence environmental water may
be unsafe for beneficial usage for a period of time. Fish kills can severely reduce the recreational
and commercial fisheries, as a result national economic losses could be substantial. For
example, harmful algal blooms cost the US economy between 2.2 and 4.6 billion dollars per
annum. Therefore, it is essential that scientific investigations are carried out so that causes of
fish kills are established, future fish kills can be avoided, environmental factors relating to fish
kills can be identified and water quality can be maintained or improved. It is important that
public should be advised against the risk of consuming dead fish since fish killed due to biotoxins
or pollutants/chemicals or diseases could be harmful to humans.
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261216309_Global_fish_Kills_Causes_and_Consequ
ences )

LOCAL LITERATURE

Fish kill is defined by the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage (1998)
as “a significant and sudden death of fish or other aquatic animals such as fish, crabs or prawns.
This event is characterized by a large number of aquatic animals dying over a short time, usually
in a clearly defined area.” Jacinto (2011) used the above definition to describe ecent fish kill
events in Philippine waters, especially those associated with intensive aquaculture activities, e.g.,
overstocking of fish cages as documented in Bolinao, Pangsinan in 2003 (San Diego-McGlone et
al. 2008) and in 2010 (Escobar et al. 2013). In Negros Oriental, a fish kill was documented by
Silliman University Marine Laboratory (SUML) in Siit Bay, Zamboanguita due to intensive
stocking of milkfish (Chanos chanos) (De Leon & White 2005).

Fish kill, i.e., fin fishes and crustaceans, was documented during our initial survey from April 22–
26, 2013 in Ilog River-Estuary, Negros Occidental in central Philippines. A recent study
conducted by the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod revealed that solid wastes and sewage from
domestic and swine farms were still unresolved in the area (Oñate- Pacalioga & Peralta
2016).
 The fish kill event in Ilog River- Estuary in 2013 and to highlight the urgency for
concerned government agencies, i.e., the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR),
and local government units, to investigate the main cause of the problem. Moreover, we would
like to determine whether or not there is a significant decline in terms of catch-per-unit effort
(CPUE) of trawl fishing and beach seine months after the fish kill event.

Mass fish kills in Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, has been reported as
early as in the 1930’s. With the introduction of and development of aquaculture in this lake,
considerable attention and concern was focused on the problem. Records of mass fish kill in the
lake mainly from unpublished sources and reports from fisherfolk were reviewed and the
causes categorized. The data covered the period 1972 to 1998. Among the commercially
important fish species affected were milkfish (Chanos chanos), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis
niloticus), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), snakehead (Channa striata), catfish (Clarias
macrocephalus and C. batrachus, Arius manilensis), silver perch (Terapon plumbeus) and goby
(Glossogobius giurus). The first three species are widely used in aquaculture and the rest are
important in open water fishery. Sixty percent of mass fish kill incidents were due to low
dissolved oxygen with more than half of these cases associated with blue-green phytoplankton
blooms. Fish kills due to pollution from agriculture and industries, fish pathogens and other
causes are also discussed. The incidence of mass fish kill reached its peak between 1977 to
1986. Records show that the most number of fish kills (80%) occurred between the months of
May to September. The lakeshore towns in the central arm of the lake had the highest
incidence of fish kill reported with 46% and followed by the west arm of the lake with 38% of all
fish kills recorded.( https://core.ac.uk/display/10863170)

Over 605 metric tons of tilapia have died after being hit by a fish kill in Taal Lake, in
what the Department of Environment and Natural Resources dubbed as the worst crisis faced
by the fishcage industry. At a farmgate price of P71 per kilo of tilapia, potential income loss is
estimated at P42.9 million. DENR Regional Executive Director Atty. Maria Paz Luna said there
were 121 affected fish cages in Barangay Buso Buso and Gulod in Laurel and Barangay Banaga in
neighboring Agoncillo town. The department, however, said the latest phenomenon is not
expected to affect supply and prices. “The public is advised that this merely comprises a small
percentage and while they should continue to check their fish purchases for freshness, there is
no cause for alarm in the market,” Luna said in a press statement, adding that mortalities don’t
even reach 25 percent of a town’s total production. Tilapia prices were down at P40 per kilo in
the Lipa City public market, however, from a market price of P80 per kilo following reports of
the lake’s fishkill.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued warnings on Sunday that
the lake’s dissolved oxygen was dangerously low at 2.8 parts per million and advised fish cage
owners to move their cages or harvest early. It continued to decline in the following days. “Not
all fish cage owners are capable harvesters since they do not own large boats for hauling. The
harvesters are currently hauling dead fish from their own cages,” Luna pointed out. “Existing
boats will also temporarily serve as aerators until water quality improves."

The PAMB Execom, which she chairs, likewise gave the fish cage owners 24 hours upon
notice by their respective municipal agriculturist to remove dead fish from their cages or “face
sanctions.” The regulation of fish cage industry in Taal Lake started in 2006 when the lake’s
carrying capacity of 6,000 fish cages were established and decreed to be allowed. The Taal
Volcano Protected Landscape – Protected Areas Management Board (TVPL-PAMB), who
manages the lake, passed the unified rules and regulations and began dismantling the said illegal
structures with the help of the Batangas provincial government’s Task Force Taal Lake.

They were able to reduce the number of cages from 14,000 to 6,000 even dipping
below the said figures during certain periods. Luna, however, said not all rules were followed.
“Stocking density was routinely violated and regulators had no way to count the fish already in
the cages,” she said. Owners also falsified the required certifications that they have mortality
pits for daily mortality and fish kills. Rules requiring floating feeds, the excess uneaten of which
will merely be eaten later, also took years to reach “critical mass of compliance.”

The Taal Lake Aquaculture Alliance, an industry coalition represented in the PAMB,
conducts monthly cleanups. It polices its own ranks. However, it does not represent majority of
the fish cage owners. “Worse what was intended for democratizing access to the lake –
requirements that registrants must be local residents was flouted. Financiers and feed
companies were the real owners and the registered locals were mere caretakeers,” Luna said.
It appears that the industry is incapable of addressing large fishkill incidences due to lack of large
harvesters. The mortality pits certified as existing were nowhere to be found and the free
trainings all caretakers attended “might as well have been in foreign language."

Read more at https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/06/01/1922772/fish-kill-destroys-p429-

million-worth-tilapia-batangas#ouWkozjx7YdQp2jx.99

The heat spike experienced in Cebu in the last few days has caused massive fish kill at
the Cebu City government-owned Pond A in South Road Properties (SRP) since
Thursday, October 3, 2019. Ariel Yburan, the head of the city’s Bantay Dagat, said the heat,
which reached 35 degrees Celsius on September 30, 2019 and with the heat index registering at
41 degrees Celcius, has caused the brackish water in the 8-hectare Pond A to evaporate,
causing the fish to die due to the lack of oxygen. In the last two days, Bantay Dagat has
recorded 600 kilograms of dead tilapia and bangus (milk fish) collected from the pond by
fishermen, who were taking advantage of the fish kill by harvesting and selling the dead fish.
However, only 200 kilograms have been recovered and immediately buried by Yburan’s team.
Yburan said the fish kill figure is expected to rise as the heat continues today. Despite the heavy
downpour on Friday, more tilapia were found floating on the pond’s surface early on
Saturday. Yburan said the persons who were collecting the dead fish may face charges of
trespassing. They may also be apprehended by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) for selling dead fish collected from the fish kill. He urged them to stop collecting and
selling the dead fish because these fish are not safe to eat.
He also urged consumers to be careful in buying tilapia and bangus that are sold at suspiciously
low prices. “Mailhan na ang patay na nga isda gikan sa fish kill kay moburot ang hasang ug ang
unod,” said Yburan.

The city government has initiated fish farming on Pond A since 2008 to enable fisherfolk
from the coastal area of Barangay Mambaling who were displaced by the 300-hectare SRP,
which used to be called the South Reclamation Project, to have an alternative means of
livelihood. But because of the fish kill, the fishermen could be considered to be “trespassing” on
Pond A should they continue to collect the dead fish. CDN Digital visited Pond A on Saturday
morning, October 5, 2019, and found a flock of migratory birds feasting on the carcass of the
dead fish. Fishes float along the coast of the pond while a foul smell emanates from it.
One of the city-employed guards of the pond said the smell was stronger before some
fishermen took away the dead fish. The guard, who declined to be named, said that tilapia and
bangus began to belly up and floated on the surface of the pond in the morning of October
3. The flock of migratory birds also stayed close to the pond. Mayor Edgardo Labella said he
will have the fish kill investigated, as aside from the heat wave, he had also received reports
from BFAR that the nearby Inayawan landfill might have polluted the pond’s water.
The mayor said he would also consider covering the pond if the results of the investigation
would prove that the area is already heavily polluted and could no longer sustain marine life.

Read more: https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/262223/600-kilos-of-dead-fish-collected-at-srps-

pond-a-after-heat-wave-hit-cebu#ixzz66jANDxnQ
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

CHAPTER III

A. METHOD OF RESEARCH
 The method used in gathering information is just simple investigation and asking
question to individuals who are living within the affected area. These is also the way so
we students can gather information on what really the cause of fish kill in Lake Mainit.

B. METHODS OF COLLECTING INFORMATION, MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE

To collect the information necessary for this investigative project, we student

followed a procedure. The student first find a person capable of answering our question
and the information we needed. Then ask him/her series of investigative questions to
have the information we needed then documented all the information we gather.

C. SAMPLING DESIGN (PICTURE)

CHAPTER IV
 PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF INFORMATION

This chapter presents the information gathered, the results of these investigative
interpretation are presented below by gathering important information by asking questions in
our investigative project intitled “Identifying the cause of fish kill in Lake Mainit.

We gathered information by asking random people living near Lake Mainit. Majority of
them are saying one thing they are all suspecting that the reason of fish kill is the ongoing
mining activity in the area. This mining are throwing there chemical wastage in the river which
may the cause of fish kill. According to one of the respondents before when there is still no
mining company in the area the catch of fish are abundance there is still cases of fish kill but not
that much unlike today. According to them Lake Mainit now adays is very different from before
that fisherman catches a lot of fish they don’t have problem with the supply of fish in the lake,
they don’t have to worry for their children to swim in the lake. Today they don’t even feel
confidence if the fish are still safe to eat because of the fish kill. Only few people now adays are
swimming in the lake because of garbage and chemical that sometime are visible in the lake.

According to one person working in the government who told us that mining is one
reason maybe of the fish kill but according to the result they gather from water sample the
probable cause of fish kill is that the water in Lake Mainit has been suffering from low dissolve
oxygen that may cause fish kill, the same as humans need oxygen fish needed enough oxygen
too. Because of the changing weather the effect of global warming. And the LGU of Mainit are
finding ways to solve the fish kill in Lake Mainit and also they are taking action over the
complaint of people about the chemical waste from the mining companies in the said area and
also how to solve the problem of low dissolve oxygen they are already asking the assistance of
BFAR to help. them solve the problems

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION / GENERALIZATION
 This chapter presents the summary of the investigation, the drawn conclusion
from the findings and the recommendations, which are based from the result of
interview and questioning.

SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATION

When I ask people near lake mainit they are saying that one cause of fish kill would be
because of the mining activity in the area but when I ask some people working in the city hall
different reason they have told me. The incidents of fish kill in Lake Mainit have been traced to
low dissolved oxygen in the country’s fourth largest lake, initial findings of the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-(BFAR) Caraga . Tilapia and carp have been found floating dead
in Lake Mainit. Accoerding to Mr. Loreto Casupas one of the kagawad in Mainit parts of the
lake have low dissolved oxygen, at two parts per million (ppm), from the normal level of at least
four ppm. He said bigger tilapia need more dissolved oxygen to survive. “That’s exactly one of
the reasons why bigger ones are affected by the fish kill in Lake Mainit,” he said BFAR also took
samples of water and samples of dead fish for laboratory examinations in Manila. In what I read
from an article , Nerio Casil, Director of BFAR-Caraga said that last Thursday that they also
tested the water for presence of heavy metals. “Water and fish are also checked for bacterial
analysis,” he said.

In a highly oxygenated environment, nutrients that cause algae blooms bind to free
molecules such as Iron and precipitate out of the water column. Another strategy to combat
algae growth is the application of beneficial bacteria. Beneficial bacteria out-compete algae for
available nutrients thus eliminating the aggressive blooms that can cause dissolved oxygen sags.
By eliminating stratification and reducing the chances of dense algae and phytoplankton blooms,
a pond owner can keep dissolved oxygen levels high and eliminate the stressors to the fish
populations.