SAMAL, Bataan – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on Wednesday lifted the shellfish ban in Bataan imposed last November 5 on the gathering, selling, transporting and eating of shellfish.
Provincial Agriculturist Imelda Inieto made the announcement at the Samal Municipal Hall in Bataan after receiving the fax message from BFAR a few minutes before 12:00 noon.
“Wala ng red tide toxin kaya safe for human consumption na ang mga shellfish tulad ng tahong at talaba sa buong Bataan,” Inieto said.
With the lifting of the ban, the agriculturist said she was hopeful that the affected fishermen and those in the business of shellfish will be happy after their livelihood was greatly affected for a month and two days.
The BFAR Shellfish Advisory dated December 8, 2010 stated that the Bataan coastal waters in the towns of Limay, Pilar, Orion, Mariveles, Orani, Abucay and Samal and the City of Balanga are already negative for Paralytic Shellfish Poison after three consecutive weeks of sampling in the area.
The last samples of water and shellfish meat were taken Tuesday and sent to BFAR office in Quezon City.
“Shellfishes harvested in the Bataan coastal waters are now safe for human consumption and likewise the gathering, harvesting and marketing of shellfishes in the area are now permitted,” the BFAR advisory said.
“Matutuwa na mga kababayan ko sapagka’t nagkaroon na ng katugunan ang matagal na nilang kahilingan at magkakaroon na sila ng magandang kapaskuhan,” the Mayor Gene dela Fuente said.
A few hours before the announcement, a group of fishermen and their dependents rallied in front of the Samal Municipal Hall demanding the lifting of the ban that affected their livelihood for more than a month.
Dela Fuente said that the state of calamity imposed in Samal as a result of the red tide will now be lifted.
“Pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pagtulong natin sa ating mga kababayan dahil hindi naman agad-agad na makakabawi sila sa kanilang kabuhayan,” the mayor said.
Raul dela Rosa, a stallholder in the Samal Public Market thanked the lifting of the ban. “Dapat noon pang nag-negative na toxin, inalis na ang ban para hindi naman nahirapan ang maraming umaasa sa tahong at talaba at hindi na nila kailangan pang mag-rali,” he said.
This sentiment was shared by Emiliano Samson, leader of the rallyists.
“Nakakatuwang balita dahil sa wakas matatapos na paghihirap namin sa loob ng mahigit isang buwan,” the fisherman said.
Vendors at the Orani Public Market expressed joy over the announcement. “Mabuti naman at wala ng red tide at hindi na kami malulugi araw-araw,” sellers of shrimps and fish said. A vendor said she incurred losses of P10,000 because of the red tide. “Sana naman ibalita ito sa telebisyon para hindi na kami malugi,” she said.
Provincial Agriculturist Imelda Inieto made the announcement at the Samal Municipal Hall in Bataan after receiving the fax message from BFAR a few minutes before 12:00 noon.
“Wala ng red tide toxin kaya safe for human consumption na ang mga shellfish tulad ng tahong at talaba sa buong Bataan,” Inieto said.
With the lifting of the ban, the agriculturist said she was hopeful that the affected fishermen and those in the business of shellfish will be happy after their livelihood was greatly affected for a month and two days.
The BFAR Shellfish Advisory dated December 8, 2010 stated that the Bataan coastal waters in the towns of Limay, Pilar, Orion, Mariveles, Orani, Abucay and Samal and the City of Balanga are already negative for Paralytic Shellfish Poison after three consecutive weeks of sampling in the area.
The last samples of water and shellfish meat were taken Tuesday and sent to BFAR office in Quezon City.
“Shellfishes harvested in the Bataan coastal waters are now safe for human consumption and likewise the gathering, harvesting and marketing of shellfishes in the area are now permitted,” the BFAR advisory said.
“Matutuwa na mga kababayan ko sapagka’t nagkaroon na ng katugunan ang matagal na nilang kahilingan at magkakaroon na sila ng magandang kapaskuhan,” the Mayor Gene dela Fuente said.
A few hours before the announcement, a group of fishermen and their dependents rallied in front of the Samal Municipal Hall demanding the lifting of the ban that affected their livelihood for more than a month.
Dela Fuente said that the state of calamity imposed in Samal as a result of the red tide will now be lifted.
“Pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pagtulong natin sa ating mga kababayan dahil hindi naman agad-agad na makakabawi sila sa kanilang kabuhayan,” the mayor said.
Raul dela Rosa, a stallholder in the Samal Public Market thanked the lifting of the ban. “Dapat noon pang nag-negative na toxin, inalis na ang ban para hindi naman nahirapan ang maraming umaasa sa tahong at talaba at hindi na nila kailangan pang mag-rali,” he said.
This sentiment was shared by Emiliano Samson, leader of the rallyists.
“Nakakatuwang balita dahil sa wakas matatapos na paghihirap namin sa loob ng mahigit isang buwan,” the fisherman said.
Vendors at the Orani Public Market expressed joy over the announcement. “Mabuti naman at wala ng red tide at hindi na kami malulugi araw-araw,” sellers of shrimps and fish said. A vendor said she incurred losses of P10,000 because of the red tide. “Sana naman ibalita ito sa telebisyon para hindi na kami malugi,” she said.
