MANILA, Philippines – Fishermen lost 48.5 tons of tilapia as a fish kill hit Lake Sebu in South Cotabato over the weekend.

The aquaculture industry in the area lost about P3.8 million worth of tilapia in the fish kill.

Rudy Muyco, deputized fish warden of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Lake Sebu, said the fish kill was due to depletion of oxygen in the fish cages.

Muyco explained the oxygen depletion was triggered by sudden weather changes and overcrowding of fishes in the cages.

Some of the fishes were buried, while the others were preserved through sun-drying to be turned into daing.

Provincial health officer Dr. Rogelio Aturdido, however, said the dead fishes may pose some health risks to those who will consume them, even if they are turned into daing.

The DA said more fish could be killed within the next 6 days after the first incident. – report from Anne Santos, ABS-CBN News SOKSARGEN