BFAR lifts shellfish ban in Bataan

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines   – A shellfish ban imposed in Bataan for almost 10 months was lifted yesterday by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

BFAR issued the latest shellfish bulletin after successive laboratory tests on sunset shells or sulib harvested from Samal town showed the absence of algae that cause the red toxin, said provincial agriculturist Imelda Nieto.

With the ban now lifted, harvesting, transporting, selling and eating of shellfish harvested from the towns of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles and in Balanga City are no longer prohibited.

Gov. Albert Raymond Garcia welcomed the announcement, saying residents dependent on shellfish for livelihood can now heave a sigh of relief.

Mussels and oysters are back on stalls along the road in Samal and some public markets in the province.

Nieto said the 10-month shellfish ban, which was imposed in November last year, was the longest for the province.

Seven persons were hospitalized for red tide poisoning, but no death was recorded during this period. – With Czeriza Valencia