UP study resolves mercury issue in Sorsogon

Tests made by the University of the Philippines-Natural Sciences Research Institute (UP-NSRI) last March 1 show that the waters of and fish caught off Albay’s Rapu-Rapu Island and Sorsogon are safe.

The UP study reinforces the five previous studies of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that the mercury contamination of Sorsogon fish and waters near Rapu-Rapu as alleged by anti-mining groups never existed.

The allegation scared people from buying fish, resulting in a drastic drop in the income of 5,000 Sorsogon fishermen.

According to the UP study, the surface water samples from all the 29 sampling stations in and around Rapu-Rapu as well as the eastern coast of Sorsogon, including Prieto Diaz and Bacon towns, were safe and had mercury and arsenic content well below the allowed limits.

It added that the 11 fish species sampled in the same places were safe and fit for human consumption, including samaral, labayan, katambak, bangayaw, atuloy, bataway, bulangawon, cuttlefish, helmet shells, small shrimps and small shellfish.

The tests also cleared the seawater around Rapu-Rapu and the wastewater from Lafayette’s Rapu-Rapu mining site.

The five previous tests conducted by BFAR showed that the mercury content of the waters of and fish caught in Bagacay, Rizal, Barcelona and Prieto Diaz towns in Sorsogon were well within the allowed limit.

Anti-mining groups from Sorsogon accused the Rapu-Rapu project, across the sea, of being the alleged source of mercury contamination in Sorsogon.

Lafayette, however, said that since it does not use mercury in its operations and that Rapu-Rapu Island does not have a mercury problem, there is no way it could have caused the problem in the first place if ever there was one.