THE coastal waters of Pampanga remain positive for paralytic shellfish poison as of Wednesday, January 16, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Central Luzon regional office (BFAR-3).

The agency, through its Shellfish Bulletin No. 01 Series of 2019 dated January 14, disclosed that the paralytic shellfish poison in the province’s coastal waters is still beyond the regulatory limit.

“Based on the latest laboratory results of BFAR and the local government units concerned, all types of of shellfish and Acetes (alamang) gathered from the area are not safe for human consumption due to paralytic shellfish poison,” the bulletin said.

Fish, squid, shrimps and crabs, meanwhile, are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines will be removed before cooking, it added.

Aside from the coastal waters of Pampanga, eight towns in Bataan province namely Mariveles, Orion, Balanga, Limay, Pilar, Orani, Abucay and Samal are also still positive for the red tide toxin.

BFAR also raised the red tide warning in Cancato Bay in Tacloban City, Leyte, while the alert warning remains up in Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, and Puerto Prinsesa Bay and Puerto Prinsesa City in Palawan.

“The public is advised to refrain from eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing shellfish from the coastal areas in the said areas until such time that the toxicity level has gone below the regulatory limit,” BFAR said.