BFAR probes fish kill; to file raps vs ship owner for dumping waste

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 11 (PNA) - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will file a case against the owner of the unnamed ship for dumping highly toxic chemicals to the sea that killed more than a ton of marine products in Babatngon, Leyte.

Citing initial investigation, BFAR Regional Director Juan D. Albaladejo blamed the ballast waste released by the unnamed vessel on Monday as the main cause of the fish kill.

“Our team has been gathering all data in preparation for the formal filing of case against the ship operator for violating Republic Act 10654,” Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview.

The fish kill has stopped Tuesday afternoon, but until now BFAR is still clueless on the name of the vessel that dumped the waste on Monday.

BFAR is coordinating with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to identify the vessel. Among all government agencies, only EMB has the access to the oil depot in Bacong village, Babatngon town.

“Our assumption is that after the crew unloaded the oil, they cleaned up the tanks using chemicals and dumped the waste to the sea. The waste is highly toxic since it killed even bottom-dweller species such as blue crab, stingrays and octopus within 24 hours,” the official explained.

Fish appeared sluggish, surfacing from water and dying with gaping mouth, according to Albaladejo.

BFAR also dismissed claims that the fish kill is caused by red tide bloom in Carigara Bay since toxicity level in Babatngon town is very low. (PNA)
LAP/Sarwell Q. Meniano