Eels ravaging Vizcaya rice fields

By Charlie Lagasca 

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya  – While northern Isabela is still reeling from prolonged dry spell despite the onset of the rainy season, farmers in this landlocked province are coping with eels that have “invaded” their farmlands.

Alexander Domingo, fisheries expert of the provincial agriculturist office, said eels have been destroying rice fields here which could result in poor palay production.

The eels, according to Domingo, were especially monitored in six of Nueva Vizcaya’s 15 rice-producing towns, namely Bagabag, Villaverde, Solano, Quezon, Bambang, and Ambaguio. 

Reports said the eels invading farmlands here are capable of burrowing into mud or creating holes.

“One way to contain this type of eels is to harvest them because we have a ready market for them,” said Domingo, adding that eels are being sold for at least P90 per kilo.

Eels are catadromous snake-like fish with some 800 species worldwide. In exceptional cases, they can reach 1.5 meters long. Eels causing damage in farmlands here though are only 60 to 80 centimeters long.

“This is the destructive type of eels, as these usually thrive in shallow ponds, irrigation canals and rice fields,” said Domingo, adding that this is not the eel species that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has classified as endangered.