Effects of impending El Niño on fisheries minimal, fishery expert assures

By ELI C. DALUMPINES (PIA Samar)
September 21, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  – “If the El Niño predicted by PAGASA will have some effects on fisheries, it would not be so significant,” Mr. Renato Diocton, Professor of the College of Marine Sciences of the Samar State University (SSU) assured.

According to Diocton, the draught predicted by PAGASA was just a mild one that it will not even be felt by the fisher folks in terms of a decrease of fish catch.

Prof. Diocton said it is usually the large fishing grounds, like those in South America that can feel the drastic effects of the draught. However, this will have no great impact on small fishing grounds like the Maqueda Bay, he clarified.

During El Niño, fish in shallow waters normally retreat into deep seas to escape from the warm temperature, thus diminishing fish catch, he informed. He added that this will lead to massive fish kills but these are extreme cases.

Diocton, instead, warned that this warming of the water temperature may trigger the blooming of red tide cells and increase cases of red tide poisoning to those who eat marine products such as fish and sea shells.

The marine fishery expert claimed the blooming of red tide cells is climactically conditioned and it cannot be prevented.

Red tide poisoning can be avoided though by heeding the fishery authorities’ warning to withdraw from eating marine products during occurrence of red tide.

Diocton, however, said that if this draught will have to be adverse impact, it would have to be in agriculture since PAGASA’s report on the monthly rainfall is always below normal in the previous months.