By Stephanie Sevillano | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (D.A.-BFAR) on Wednesday said it will monitor and mitigate the possible effects of the presence of tinfoil barb or “alien fish” in Laguna de Bay.
The agency made the remark after biologists from the Ateneo de Manila University warned of its potential threat to the population of native fish in the area.
The tinfoil barb or Barbonymus schwanenfeldii has orange fins and a tail with a silver appearance.
In a statement, BFAR said it “will continue to conduct assessments and implement immediate mitigation strategies as well as monitor the extent of the tinfoil barb population, evaluate its ecological interactions, and identify possible sources of introduction.”
It also assured preparedness in case the alien fish’s threat against the “ecological balance”, including the potential displacement of native species, is proven.
“The Bureau stands ready to activate targeted interventions through its established programs addressing invasive species found within Laguna de Bay,” the agency said.
To date, BFAR is in close coordination with the concerned local government units and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to ensure “science-based” monitoring and response.
D.A. spokesperson, ASec. Arnel de Mesa said the alien fish is native to Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, among others.
BFAR, however, said tinfoil barb had been initially documented in the area in 2021.
