Red Tide Remains Up in Bataan and Zambales28 March 2012
PHILIPPINES - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned the public anew to refrain from gathering and eating shellfish from the Bataan coastal waters and Masinloc Bay in Zambales as red tide toxin which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning remains present in these areas.
Affected by the ban in Bataan are the municipalities of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Abucay, Samal and Orani and the city of Balanga.
BFAR Central Luzon information officer Lanie Lamyong said: “Based on the latest shellfish bulletin issued 14 March, the current red tide toxin level in shellfish samples collected from the coastal waters of Bataan and Masinloc Bay are still significantly higher to the 60g STXg/100g tolerable limit.”
Mr Lamyong reiterated that fishes, squids, shrimps and crabs harvested from these areas are safe to eat as long as they are fresh and washed thoroughly and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
TheFishSite News Desk