CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) advised the public to refrain from harvesting and eating shellfish from Pampanga.
The warning came after shellfish samples collected from the coastal waters of Pampanga tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison.
Based on Shellfish Advisory 18 issued by BFAR, toxin shellfish samples is at 82 ugSTXeq/100g, exceeding the 60 ugSTXeq/100g regulatory limit.
BFAR noted that eating, gathering or harvesting, and marketing of shellfish and "alamang" is prohibited until such time that the toxicity level has gone below the regulatory limit.
Meanwhile, fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs 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, the agency added.
Aside from Pampanga, BFAR also raised the red tide warning on the coastal waters of eight Bataan towns, namely, Mariveles, Orion, Balanga, Limay, Pilar, Orani, Abucay, and Samal on Tuesday, October 29.