BFAR-7 checks on seaweed in Bantayan that are affected by ‘ice-ice’ 

BFAR 7 officials examine the seaweeds affected by ‘ice-ice’ in the island of Bantayan, Cebu. | BFAR Region VII FB page

Cebu City, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR-7) conducted an assessment of seaweed affected by “ice-ice” in Bantayan Island, Cebu, on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

“Ice-ice” is a seaweed disease cause by the increase of the water temperature, BFAR-7 OIC Regional Director Alfeo Piloton explained.

Piloton, together with BFAR-7 personnel, went to the islet of Panangatan, Biyagayag and Mambacayao Diot in Bantayan to monitor the condition of the seaweeds in the area. 

“Based sa amo survey gahapon, di man tanang area effected. Sa 300 hectare nga gisurvey, ang effected estimatedly 5 percent ra kay narescue man dayon, ” Piloton said.

(Base in our survey yesterday, not all areas are affected. In 300 hectares that we surveyed, an estimate 5 percent only is affected because it was rescued immediately.)

Piloton advised fisherfolk to harvest seaweed early to save it from further damage. 

“Amo sila gitudloan gahapon nga ila ibalhin ang ilang tanom didto sa lain nga lugar nya isubmerge gamay, 1 meter from the surface sa lugar nga medyo continuous ang current, one way ni aron marescue nato sila.”

(We advised them to transfer the seaweed to another area and to submerge it one meter from the surface with continuous current, one way to rescue them.)

He assured that assistance will be given to those who are affected by giving additional ropes for planting seaweed and deploying technicians for technical assistance. /bmjo