BFAR-7 Warns El Niño Effect

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR-7) has warned that El Niño phenomenon would probably affect fishermen in the region when hot season starts in the middle of this month.

BFAR-7 Regional Director Andres Bojos explained that the warm season would usually force fishes to go to the deep rather than staying at the shoreline areas.

Bojos said that with this status, small fisherfolks would have a hard time catching fishes since they cannot go in deep water, where school of fishes are staying.

He said this is the usual behavior of fish during hot season.

Thus, Bojos said, the livelihood of small fishermen who cannot go fishing in deep sea will be mostly affected.

However, Bojos has stated that to mitigate the effects of El Niño against the fisher folks’ livelihood, their office will monitor the daily catch of fishermen.

Aside from this, he also informed that BFAR-7 had already prepared some alternate livelihood programs for the fishermen in Central Visayas.

Bojos also indicated that when there is a decrease of supply of fish meat, prices in the market would increase.

The Fisheries director also said they will also monitor the natural condition of the seas for possible red tide contamination, which usually occur during the converging of hot and cold seasons.

He warned the danger of red tide due to its poisonous effect once affected fish will be eaten by the people.