Extreme heat affecting fishponds, seaweed farms in Zamboanga City

The extreme heat experienced across the Philippines because of El Niño is affecting the production of fishponds and seaweed farms in Zamboanga City.

According to the Office of the City Agriculturist, nearly 190 hectares of fishponds owned by 85 operators and 30 hectares of seaweed farms managed by 32 farmers are affected.

The agency continues to distribute fingerlings operators could raise in their fishponds, except for crab fingerlings the local government is still buying, as of this posting.

“Actually, part of the P10.5M intervention for El Niño approved by the local government is the provision of assistance as well to our fishpond operators and to our seaweeds farmers. May mga procurement po tayo ng mga bangus fries, seaweeds, and planting material that will be distributed,” Office of the City Agriculturist Head, Arben Magdugo, said.

But mud crabs raised in some fishponds in the city are dying because of the extreme heat.

Out of around 2,000 mud crabs raised in a 27-hectare fishpond in Barangay Cabaluay, only seven were harvested as of April 2, 2024.

“Lugi na kaayo, mag usa ka tuig na kami walay tarong nga harvest. Hasta mga alimango nangamatay na,” fishpond operator, Jocelyn Esperat, said.

Fishpond operators also tried to raise bangus last December 2023 but many died before the scheduled harvest on April 1, 2024, due to the hot weather. —GMA Regional TV