“The BFAR forbids the eating, gathering, transporting and marketing of shellfish from the towns of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar, Orion, Limay at Mariveles because of the high toxicity level of mussel meat per lab test,” Danilo Abrera, BFAR provincial chief, said.
Abrera, a senior agriculturist, said “tahong (mussel) samples collected in the area showed a toxin level of 1,200 unit grams Saxotoxin per 100 grams of shellfish meat which is above the regulatory limit of 60 ugSTXeq/100 grams.”
“Ang advice natin sa ating mga kababayan ngayon ay to refrain sa pagkain ng tahong at huwag munang mag-gather nito,” he said.
Abrera said fish, crabs and shrimps are safe to eat and not affected by red tide.
“Pero linising mabuti ang isda at mabuting alisin ang hasang at ibang internal organs,” he said.
He said records showed that Bataan was last aff ected by red tide on October, 2014 that was lifted on February 21, 2015.
“Mahigit dalawang taon na walang red tide sa Bataan,” Abrera said.
Meanwhile, the fish section of the Balanga City Public Market seemed not affected by the shellfish ban.
“Mabili pa rin mga isda, malakas ang benta, a woman fish vendor said.
“Hindi naman apektado ng red tide ng isda,” she added.
