MANILA - Water pollution caused recent cases of fish kill off Las Piñas and Parañaque in Manila Bay, an official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Saturday.

Water quality tests showed poor levels of dissolved oxygen and levels of ammonia and phosphates than are higher than the standard level, BFAR CALABARZON Regional Director Sammy Malvas said.

Ammonia is a chemical produced by decomposing organic matter, including plants, animals and animal waste. Phosphates are nutrient source for many forms of algae and could come from domestic sewage and runoff from agricultural land, urban areas, and green areas.

"Kailangan lang sigurong tukuyin kung saan nanggaling ang pollution. Palagi nga naming sinasabi na dapat panatilihing malinis ang tubig para ma-sustain ang life sa dagat," Malvas said.

(We need to find the source of the pollution. Like what we always say, we need to keep our waters clean to preserve marine life.)

Fisherman Roberto Amante said the fish kill caused his daily income to drop to P300 from P500.

Fish dealer Ricky Giller said fish prices in the area fell 60 percent while sales slowed due to wary consumers.