The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has lifted the shellfish ban that was imposed in Bataan on November 17, 2017, the provincial agriculturist said Monday.
Imelda Inieto, provincial agriculturist, said BFAR found negative results for paralytic shellfish poison after three consecutive weeks of testing shellfish taken in the coastal waters of Bataan.
Found negative for the red tide toxin are shellfi sh samples gathered from the towns of Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay and Mariveles and the City of Balanga.
“Dahil na-lift na ang ban, ang ibig sabihin pwede nang kainin uli ang lahat ng shellfish sa Bataan tulad ng tahong, clam, at iba pa,” Inieto said.
The BFAR advisory said gathering and/or harvesting and marketing of shellfishes from Bataan are now permitted.
“Kapag mainit na mainit ang araw tapos biglang uulan, nagiging mapula ang tubig sa dagat at dumarami ang phytoplankton kaya lumilitaw ang red tide,” the provincial agriculturist said.
On November 17, 2017, BFAR tested samples of shellfish in Bataan at 1,200 unit grams Saxotoxin per 100 grams of shellfish meat that was beyond the regulatory limit of 60 ugSTX per 100g meat.
