CLARK FREEPORT – Shellfish for the Christmas holidays? After months of red tide plague in Central Luzon, yes.
Unless the shellfishes were harvested from the waters off the coasts of Bataan where red tide alert has remained.
In its latest bulletin dated last Dec. 13, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) indicated that the provinces of Pampanga and Zambales are now “free from red tide.”
These two provinces had been plagued by red tide toxins in the recent months, but the bulletin has listed them as among the areas where harvesting of shellfish is now allowed for human consumption.
The BFAR said, however, that based on the latest laboratory results, shellfishes collected at coastal waters of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga City, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay, and Samal in Bataan “are still positive for paralytic shellfi sh poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.”
Also in the list of red tide-affected areas are the Puerto Princesa Bay in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan; Dauls and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Irong- Irong, San Pedro and Silanga Bays in Western Samar; Cancabato Bay and Tacloban City in Leyte; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur.
“All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from the (affected) areas are not safe for human consumption. Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption, provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs are removed before cooking,” BFAR said in its bulletin.
