Dagupan folks ask city assistance on fish kill, pollution

By Liezle BasaInigo

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — Fisherfolk here who reported a fish kill since the first week of September are clamoring for action and assistance from the city government and the local agriculturist.

Alfredo Dawana, founder and chairman of the fishponds owners, operators and fisherfolk of this city, said pollution in the river is causing the fish kill.

Dawana said about 30 tons of dead fish have already been reported in the island villages of Pugaro, Salapingao, and Lucao and can be spotted from the stretch of the Jose de Venecia Sr. Expressway Extension.

Last Monday, close to 100 tons of milkfish had to be harvested early from fishponds in these areas for fear they may go to waste.

City Agriculturist Emma Molina only called the incident a “mild fish kill” resulting from thermal shock caused by the sudden downpour on a very hot Sunday afternoon.

But Dawana said the fish kill is due to a pollution caused by fish pens and cages.