Tons of fish ‘jump out of water’ in Camarines Sur beach

Tons of “turay” fish were seen swarming the shore of a beach resort in Bula, Camarines Sur, according to GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia’s Chris Novelo on “24 Oras.” 

In a video taken on April 10, countless masses of turay almost turned the coastline silver as the small fish covered the shore.

“Nabigla po kaming lahat kasi nung time na ‘yun nagvi-video po ako nung nangingisda dun sa may bangka tapos akala namin nung una mga dilis lang ‘yung tumatalon dun sa may mababaw na dagat,” said Jhunave Boreta, a visitor in the resort.

(We were all surprised with what we saw while taking the video from a boat.  At first, we thought they were just anchovies jumping in the shallow portion of the sea.)

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bicol said the phenomenon is called “beaching” or the influx of fish due to environmental conditions and other reasons.

“Could be na mga pagbabago sa environmental conditions like high temperature, small amount of oxygen sa tubig or wave directions. Posible rin po na it’s because na ‘yung food source nila is near the shore,” said BFAR Bicol spokesperson Wheng Bricia-Briones

(The reason could be the changes in environmental conditions like high temperature, small amount of oxygen in the water, or wave directions. It could also be because their food source is near the shore.)

In the town of Pasacao, fishermen caught giant squids each weighing 5 to 12 kilograms.

“Ngayong season halos araw-araw, kung minsan isang araw lang ang lilipas, meron na naman,” said Efren Barrameda, a fisherman. 

(This season, we are able to catch giant squid almost every day.)

BFRA-Bicol and the Barangay Council of Dalupaon said that the bountiful catch of squids showed that the marine habitat in the area is rich.  The month is also the peak season for giant squids.

“So ang kagandahan po dito talagang mga bingwit lang ang gamit nila so wala po silang ginagamit na mga iligal. Kasi dito sa dalupaon may bantay dagat din po kami then wina-warningan po talaga na bawal,” said Barangay Captain of Dalupaon, Maria Elena Bontile. 

(The beauty here is that they only use fishing rods,  they don’t resort to illegal methods. Here in the village we also have a sea guard, we were warned that it is not allowed.)—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News