Tahong among shellfish banned. Photo by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on Saturday issued an advisory banning the eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing of shellfish raised and caught along the coastal waters of Bataan.
Philippine Information Agency Region 3 director William Beltran said that per BFAR Advisory No. 61, shellfish samples collected from Bataan are now positive for the paralytic shellfish poison.
Provincial agriculturist Joey Dizon confirmed that indeed laboratory tests showed the presence of red tide in the province from samples taken Friday afternoon with the results known Saturday after lunch.
Affected by the shellfish ban are shellfish raised and gathered from Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar, Orion, Limay and Mariveles.
The shellfish ban takes effect until such time that the toxicity level of green mussels or tahong, oysters and other shells has gone below the regulatory limit.
The regulatory limit for shellfish to be safe for human consumption is 60 unit grams of Saxotoxin per 100 grams of shellfish meat.
Fish caught in the area are safe for human consumption as long as they are fresh and it is advised that grills and intestines be taken out before cooking.
Shrimps and crabs are also not included in the ban.
