BFAR lifts shellfish ban in Bataan

   “We already had three consecutive negative lab results, the last one of which was conducted last Friday, and the result is negative,” Inieto reported.

   The shellfish ban was first raised in November 5 last year and this red tide phenomenon is considered by OPA as the longest that Bataan has experienced.

   During the shellfish ban, BFAR prohibits the consumption of all types of shellfish and alamang due to threat of paralytic shellfish poisoning. But the agency allows the consumption of fish, shrimp, squid and crab provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

   Experts say that red tide is a term used to describe coastal phenomenon in which the water is discolored by high algal biomass or concentration of algae. The discoloration may not be necessarily red in color but it may also appear yellow, brown, green, blue or milky, depending on the organisms involved.

   Almost always red tides are damaging since they cause harm to the environment, living organisms and humans. Some cause mass mortality of fish and some produce potent toxins that jeopardize the public.

   “It is now safe to eat all types of shellfish like tahong (mussels), talaba (oysters) and bagoong (shrimp paste),” Inieto concluded.