Fish kill in Aguinaldo, Ifugao: Dry spell wipes out thousands of Tilapia; Farmers plead for assistance

Hingyon, Ifugao – Just days after thousands of market-ready tilapia died in fish cages at Magat Dam in Isabela due to prolonged hot weather, low water levels, and depleted dissolved oxygen, a similar incident has now struck Aguinaldo, Ifugao.

Aguinaldo is known for its thriving freshwater fish cage industry, which provides livelihood to many local residents and contributes significantly to the municipality's aquaculture production.

The incident has dealt a heavy blow to local fish farmers who rely on fish cage culture as their primary source of income.

Photos shared online showed dead tilapia floating inside fish cages in Barangay Hala 1, Aguinaldo, raising concern among residents and fellow fisherfolk as another aquaculture-dependent community suffers from the effects of the continuing dry conditions.

The incident was brought to public attention through a social media post by Babygin Ong, who said the fish had been carefully raised and nurtured but failed to survive because of the extreme environmental conditions.

"Pinaghirapan, inalagaan, pero hindi kinaya ng tagtuyot. Sobrang baba ng tubig + kulang sa oxygen = fish kill. Lord, bigyan Mo kami ng lakas bumangon ulit," Ong wrote.

Another resident also shared online that a similar incident had severely affected families living along the Halag Riverside, particularly in Purok 7, Halag 3, where many depend on fish farming as their primary source of livelihood.

The situation in Ifugao came just days after a similar crisis was reported at Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela, beginning June 24, where at least 30 fish cage operators suffered millions of pesos in losses after thousands of market-ready tilapia died before harvest.

The earlier incident was likewise attributed to prolonged heat, receding water levels, and depleted dissolved oxygen, causing the fish to suffocate.

While the extent of the losses in Ifugao has yet to be determined, the incident has raised concerns among local fish farmers, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on fish cage culture.

Affected fish cage operators are now appealing to concerned government agencies for assistance, while netizens expressed sympathy, noting that months of hard work and investment were wiped out in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

“Kailala a bannog ken gastos. Isu koma a pangnayon ti pagbiag ti paglakuan dagiti agtartaraken. Kaasi manen dagita Makin fishpond dta dakkel nga loss da,” a netizen commented.