Red tide alert up in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Philippines – Eight coastal areas in Bataan are still under a shellfish ban, according to the provincial agriculturist’s office.

Danilo Abrera, head of the office’s fishery division, said the shellfish ban is still enforced in this city and in the coastal towns of Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, and Mariveles.

Abrera said two consecutive shellfish meat tests recently conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) yielded negative results, but a third test turned out positive for red tide microorganisms higher than the tolerable limit.

Local authorities advised residents to stop eating shellfish and alamang, and deployed personnel in public markets to monitor compliance with the shellfish ban, as some vendors were still reportedly selling mussels and oysters.  – With Ric Sapnu