BALANGA CITY, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) lifted on Wednesday the ban on gathering and eating shellfish from the coast of Bataan and other areas of Manila Bay, allowing thousands of families dependent on the shellfish industry to return to their trade. Provincial Agriculturist Imelda Nieto informed Bataan Governor Enrique "Tet" Garcia that the BFAR lifted its ban on gathering and eating shellfish collected in waters off this province. In its advisory on shellfish issued Wednesday, BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento stated that based on the latest laboratory results, the coastal waters of Bataan, Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, and Bulacan in Manila Bay are now free from the red tide toxin. Likewise, the BFAR lifted the red tide ban in Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao, Wawa and Bani in Pangasinan; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate; Puerto Princesa, Taytay; Capiz; Roxas City; Negros; Leyte; Biliran; Surigao; Davao Oriental Zamboanga Sibugay and Sorsogon. However, Sarmiento said that the coastal areas of Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte; Misamis Occidental; Sorsogon Bay and Bislig City in Surigao are still positive of red tide for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit. The BFAR advised that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are now safe for human consumption, except for alamang gathered in these areas.
Prior to the shellfish ban, thousands of fishermen in Bataan staged protest against the shellfish ban gathering, saying their livelihood had been severely affected. The protesters appeared putting the blame on local government, not knowing that it was the BFAR that ordered the shellfish ban. Garcia, in his bid to help the displaced fishermen, provided packages of relief goods to the affected fishermen. Red tide poison usually occurs at least a month but not more than two months. Bataan is one of the major producers of shellfish, such as tahong, alamang, crabs, among others.
