A RED tide alert and shellfish ban are now up in nine towns in Bataan after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued on Saturday, November 6, an advisory prohibiting the consumption, gathering or harvesting, transporting, and marketing of shellfish raised and caught along the coastal waters in the province.
The BFAR advisory and warning covers the towns of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar, Orion, Limay, and Mariveles.
BFAR Advisory 61 stressed that shellfish samples collected from nine Bataan towns tested positive for the red tide toxin causing paralytic shellfish poisoning per samples taken afternoon of Friday, November 5.
The BFAR added that the shellfish ban will be in effect until the toxicity levels of green mussels or tahong, oysters, and other bivalve products have met or gone down below the regulatory limit.
The regulatory limit for shellfish to be safe for human consumption is 60 unit grams of toxin per 100 grams of shellfish meat.
Fish are safe for human consumption as long as they are fresh and with gills and intestines removed before cooking, the BFAR said. (JTD)