Chemical spill kills fish in Leyte town

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 9 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has expressed alarm over fish kill in Babatngon, Leyte due to ballast waste discharged by unnamed vessel.

The fisheries bureau has sent teams to dig more details on the reported chemical spill and get the identity of the vessel that docked at the oil depot in Bacong village, Babatngon town. The vessel reportedly arrived on Sunday and left Tuesday afternoon.

Citing reports from local fishermen, BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview that in the coastal subvillage of Nabungcagan, at least 300 kilograms of assorted marine products were found dead.

In the nearby Tulaan subvillage, 450 kilograms have been affected by the spill.

“Assorted species were affected including bottom dwellers such as blue swimming crab, octopus, stingray, suggesting chemical spill,” Albaladejo told PNA.

The fish kill has started on Monday and has been spreading to nearby areas until Wednesday noon, according to BFAR.

“Fish appeared sluggish, surfacing from water and died with gaping mouth. No obvious lesions seen from body surface,” Albaladejo explained.

The fisheries bureau got the report about the chemical spill on Tuesday from the Office of the Civil Defense.

The BFAR official said that this is not the first time a fish kill hit the coastal area of Babatngon due to oil or chemical spill. The recent incident prompted authorities to look into environmental laws violations of the oil depot.

Babatngon town is about 31 kilometers northwest from this city. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO