ORANI, Bataan- The cold weather is having its toll in the fishing industry in Bataan although not yet in the price of fish and other sea products, fish vendors and fishpond operators said Friday.
Imelda Sebastian, fish vendor at the Orani public market, noted the absence starting this January of fish commonly caught in the sea. “Nawala ang hasa-hasa, asuhos, bisugo, kitang, lapu-lapu at maging ang mamali dahil sa sobrang lamig.”
She said that what are being sold are mostly bangus and tilapia. Sebastian said that at the moment there were no increases in prices. “Ganoon pa rin,” she said.
“Hindi makagalaw ang hipon at alimango sa lamig. Ang iba sumasadsad sa gilid ng palaisdaan at namamatay,” said Anthony Herrera, consignacion and fishpond owner in Orani. He said that they have prawns of one and a half months that some have started to die.
Herrera said there is no increase in prices yet of the prawns, shrimps, bangus and crabs.
Efren Magbanua, a fishpond caretaker, shared the observation of Herrera. “Hindi makapanginain ng maayos ang mga hipon, bangus at alimango dahil sa matinding lamig,” he said.
Magbanua said that they just harvested bangus already six months old. “Sampung piraso ang isang kilo na karaniwan ang bangus na 6 na buwan ay 500 grams ang isa,” he said.
Hector Sy said the cold weather has also its big effect on prawns. He supplies most of the prawn fry needs in Bataan.
“Mabagal ang molting ng semilya, ibig sabihin mabagal magluno o magpalit ng balat kaya mabagal lumaki kaya nadadagdagan ang gastos,” the prawn hatchery owner in Batangas City said.
