Zambales, Bulacan red tide-free

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga ­- The Regional Office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here has reported that aside from Bataan, the provinces of Zambales and Bulacan are now free from paralytic shellfish poison or most commonly known as red tide.

“The coastal waters of Bulacan in Manila Bay; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; and coastal waters of Mariveles, Limay Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Oranic, Abucay and Samal in Bataan are now free of the toxic red tides,“ according to the latest BFAR shellfish bulletin, Thursday.

Bataan coastal waters are now negative for the red tide toxin. Negative results for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) were obtained from three consecutive weeks of sampling the area, BFAR explained.

BFAR said that “the public is hereby informed that shellfishes harvested from the above mentioned coastal areas are now safe for human consumption. Likewise, gathering or harvesting and marketing of shellfishes harvested from the above-mentioned area are now permitted.“

Meanwhile, shellfish collected at Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Murcialagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; and Balita Bay, Mati Davao Oriental are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)