ILOILO City – More than 400 juvenile fishes were dispersed to the Iloilo River by the Office of the City Agriculturist recently.
These included managat, danggit and lapu-lapu, among others.
A total of 20,000 fishes had been restocked in an effort to improve the biodiversity of the waterway in the heart of the city.
The restocking used to be fingerlings and have been upgraded into juveniles to boost fish supply.
Acting City Agriculturist Iñigo Garingalao said the stock enhancement program is a big help to small fisherfolks.
Lately, several large species were caught by fishers using hook and line.
The Iloilo River is an estuary river. It starts in Oton, Iloilo at Batiano River, which is also an estuary, then traverses through the Iloilo City districts of Lapuz, La Paz, Mandurriao, Molo, Arevalo and the City Proper, before emptying into the Iloilo Strait.
As an estuary, the river level fluctuates with the tides. This flow brings in nutrients from the sea, which makes the Iloilo River a nursery for fish species.
The banks of the river are home to 22 of the country’s 35 mangrove species,
City hall recently tapped private partners and public organizations for massive mangrove reforestation along the Iloilo Esplanade at the riverbanks.
Mangroves are considered as fish sanctuary and home to other marine life. (Iloilo City PIO/PN)
