Shellfish, young crabs from oil slick-affected areas not safe to eat

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has advised the public that shellfish and young crabs in shore areas affected by the oil slick are not safe for human consumption.

Based on the results of its analysis, the BFAR said that shellfish and young crabs are easily contaminated with the bunker oil deposited by incoming high tide, making it unfit for human consumption.

Unlike the swimming fishes, aquatic plants and animals that live closer to shore areas, young crabs, mussels, oysters, clams, seaweeds, borrowing organisms and nursery stages of fish suffocate when exposed to large amounts of oil.

The result also showed that samples of various fish species from Guimaras and Panay Gulf that were caught in Nueva Valencia, Sibunag, San Lorenzo and Buenavista in Guimaras and in Guimbal, Iloilo were found to be negative of the bunker oil.

Various fish species that were caught in the municipalities of Ajoy, Concepcion and Estancia in Negros Occidental were also found to be negative of the bunker oil.

Samples of shellfish from the shore areas in Guimaras were evaluated on September 5 for bunker oil contamination. - Jasmin R. Uy