BFAR to conduct stock assessment of fish in Guimaras
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is poised to conduct a stock assessment in Guimaras to check on the availability of fish in the province's territorial waters after the oil spill incident.
BFAR Guimaras officer in charge Remia Aparri said they would like to know if fishes have already returned in the area and if it is sufficient to provide for the sustenance of the fisherfolks.
The testing will be done in five landing sites located at the five municipalities of the province. These are situated in Sibunag, Buenavista, San Lorenzo, San Miguel and Nueva Valencia.
Last week, Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela mentioned that there were reports of fish population already returning in the Guimaras waters. He urged the BFAR to immediately conduct a stock assessment to verify reports and check if it could provide for the daily sustenance of the residents there.
Prior to the incident, the provincial profile of Guimaras revealed that in a day, each fisherman could catch at least five kilograms of fish equivalent to P300, which is still below the poverty level.
Meanwhile, Aparri reiterated that the BFAR continues to warn the public that shellfish and crustaceans are not yet safe for human consumption. However, fishes that were caught from the Guimaras Strait and Panay Gulf are safe.
(PNA)