By Jan Carlo Anolin
BAGUIO CITY -- One of the famous tourist attractions here would be the Wright Park, and located there is a well-known reflection pool wherein thousands of fish could be seen swimming.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MANILA BULLETIN)
However, around 200 fish were reportedly killed due to overcrowding, low dissolved oxygen (DO), and toxic level of ammonia in water.
In a television report by ABS-CBN, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region (BFAR-CAR) confirmed a mix of tilapia and koi fish were found dead at the reflection pool last Saturday.
The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) quickly responded and removed the dead fish.
The management also transferred the living fish to other ponds as they conducted a clean-up for the reflection pool on Thursday.
Results of aquatic test parameter conducted by BFAR-CAR yielded 1 mg per liter of DO, which is far from the standard amount of 5 mg per liter.
According to United States Geological Survey (USGS), DO refers to the measure of how much oxygen is dissolved in water – the amount of oxygen available to living aquatic organisms.
Aquatic life is put under stress when DO drops in water drops below 5 mg per liter. Lower DO concentration bears greater stress for aquatic animals.
“Ngayon dumami na sila, kulang na ‘yung space para sa kanila. Sa tagal na ‘yun, hindi nalinisan ‘yung bottom niya tumaas ang ammonia,” BFAR-CAR chief aquaculturist Lois Fermin said.
In 2013, the local government unit asked BFAR to provide fish for the reflection pool. From 1,000, their population grew drastically to 4,000 as of today.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MANILA BULLETIN)
However, around 200 fish were reportedly killed due to overcrowding, low dissolved oxygen (DO), and toxic level of ammonia in water.
In a television report by ABS-CBN, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region (BFAR-CAR) confirmed a mix of tilapia and koi fish were found dead at the reflection pool last Saturday.
The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) quickly responded and removed the dead fish.
The management also transferred the living fish to other ponds as they conducted a clean-up for the reflection pool on Thursday.
Results of aquatic test parameter conducted by BFAR-CAR yielded 1 mg per liter of DO, which is far from the standard amount of 5 mg per liter.
According to United States Geological Survey (USGS), DO refers to the measure of how much oxygen is dissolved in water – the amount of oxygen available to living aquatic organisms.
Aquatic life is put under stress when DO drops in water drops below 5 mg per liter. Lower DO concentration bears greater stress for aquatic animals.
“Ngayon dumami na sila, kulang na ‘yung space para sa kanila. Sa tagal na ‘yun, hindi nalinisan ‘yung bottom niya tumaas ang ammonia,” BFAR-CAR chief aquaculturist Lois Fermin said.
In 2013, the local government unit asked BFAR to provide fish for the reflection pool. From 1,000, their population grew drastically to 4,000 as of today.