By: Franco G. Regala
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has imposed a shellfish ban in the coastal waters of Bataan due to the presence of red tide toxins.
In an advisory issued on Nov. 16 by the BFAR-Regional Fishes and Laboratory 3 and Provincial Agriculture Office, it said that shellfish samples collected from Orani, Samal, Hermosa, Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Abucay, and Balanga City tested positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.
“The toxin level collected from the said areas is at 61 to 1200 ugSTXeg/100g of shellfish meat which is above the regulatory limit of 60 micrograms per 100 grants of shellfish meat,” BFAR Region 3 Director Wilfredo M. Cruz said in his advisory.
He said that eating, harvesting, or marketing of shellfish such as tahong, talaba, tulya, and other shellfish taken from the affected areas are prohibited.
BFAR issued the advisory as a precautionary advice to the public to refrain from harvesting or consuming shellfish from the red-tide plagued areas.
The agency said it will come out with a new advisory when the toxicity level in the coastal waters is reduced.
The BFAR had declared the coastal waters of Zambales and Pangasinan free of red tide.