A Fishy Tale or Can the Fish Tell?

Tuesday night I had fish for dinner. It was a species we call locally as "kwaw." The flesh measured 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. I noted that it had eggs in its belly. The fish was, therefore, pregnant. It was, therefore, mature. It was, therefore, in its biggest possible size. It would not grow any bigger. I stopped eating and took my camera. What's the big deal? In years past, "kwaw" used to grow very big before becoming pregnant. Its flesh would grow 8 inches long and 5 inches wide. Since 2005, the year Lafayette started full operation, fishermen have observed that the "kwaw" has been stunted in its growth. They attribute the diminution to contamination of the waters around Rapu-Rapu. I do not expect Lafayette to argue that the "kwaw" is having "teenage pregnancy." Another observation is that the supply of "kwaw" lasts for only 2-3 weeks nowadays. In the past, it could be bought in the marketplaces several weeks before and after Holy Week. It would start in March and end in May. This year, the stunted "kwaw" appeared as early as February. In other words, its biological season has been altered.

Those who have eyes must see the truth. Those who have brains need only little effort to realize what is happening around Rapu-Rapu. If certain persons with authority to reverse the down slide would instead pretend not to see empirical data, then that is the problem. That is, indeed, the fishy situation.