A state of calamity was declared in this municipality because of the occurrence of a fish kill over the past few weeks, delivering a big blow to almost a thousand fish cage owners and operators. The initial estimate of damage is at least half a million pesos. Mayor Margie Aguinillo said that while it is the tilapia species devastated by the occurrence, what is disturbing is that even the smallest fish species endemic to the lake, the Philippine goby (pandaka pygmaea) or “sinarapan,” have also been wiped out. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), however, said the fish species still exists, but only in lakelets around Lake Buhi and not in its massive expanse which is prone to bacteria, especially during the rainy season.

Saldico, R. (2016, November 26). Chemicals in tilapia feeds, Changes in temperature cause lake Buhi fish kill; town state calamity. Manila Bulletin, p. 14.