Losses in the Philippines fisheries sector due to Typhoon Helen, which hit Northern Luzon provinces this week, reached P806,000, said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Friday.


In a statement, the attached agency to the Agriculture department said that preliminary reports from its Region 1 office showed that losses of fish stocks, mostly bangus and tilapia, were valued at P780,000, while damage to facilities came to P26,000.

BFAR Region 1 Director Nestor D. Domenden said that at least 113 fish cage and fish farm operators were affected in various provinces in the region.

“Aside from the fingerlings which escaped from the fish cages and damaged dikes, 7.5 tons of marketable size tilapia were also lost during the storm,” said Mr. Domenden in the statement.

BFAR Director Asis G. Perez said that he has instructed all hatcheries operated by its regional offices not affected by the recent weather disturbances to reserve bangus and tilapia fry for distribution to affected operators.

This, as the bureau had earlier reported that typhoons Ferdie, Gener, and the monsoon rains, which hit the country over the last two weeks, had already wreaked damage amounting to about P584 million.

“Ninety-six percent or P562.3 million [came] from losses in terms of cost of inputs such as feeds and market value of fish,” it said.

The earlier typhoons and the southwest monsoon, said BFAR, affected at least 7,981 fish pond and fish cage operators in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Mr. Perez assured the public that the supply of fish, specifically bangus and tilapia, remains stable in the National Capital Region.

© 2012 BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation

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