EATING, gathering, harvesting and marketing of shellfish from eight towns of Bataan province and a city are now permitted after months of being banned due to red tide.

This, after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued Shellfish Advisory 08 dated March 2, 2022, lifting the shellfish ban in Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles, and Balanga City after samples collected in the coastal towns and city were found negative for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

Bataan provincial agriculturist Joey Roberto Dizon said in an advisory on Wednesday night, March 2, that BFAR, based on the results of red tide monitoring activities of the fishery agency and the local government units (LGUs), showed negative results for the PSP or red tide toxin obtained from three consecutive weeks of sampling.

BFAR declared the shellfish ban on November 6, 2021 and February 25, 2022 after shellfish raised in these coastal areas were tested not fit for human consumption due to the presence of red tide.

Dizon said BFAR and the LGUs are continuously monitoring the coastal waters of Bataan to safeguard public health and to protect the fishery industry. (JTD)

SOURCE: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/