SASMUAN -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Central Luzon issued a shellfish advisory on Friday, November 23, warning people from eating, gathering or harvesting shellfish from the coastal waters of Bataan and Pampanga.

“It is Shellfish Advisory No. 1,” the BFAR said, adding that shellfish samples collected in the area are above the regulatory limit of 60 ugSTXeq/100g.

“Based on the latest laboratory results of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Fisheries Laboratory III, shellfish samples collected from the coastal waters of Bataan and Pampanga tested positive from the Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP),” the advisory said.

The BFAR advisory said gathering and harvesting and marketing of shellfish from Bataan and Pampanga is now discouraged.

The BFAR and local government units are now monitoring affected areas to ensure the safety of consumers.