The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources lifted the shellfish ban on 3 April, spurred by laboratory tests on shellfishes gathered from Alaminos, Bolinao, and Anda for the past three successive weeks that turned out negative or showed only negligible level of red tide toxin.
Dr Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries and Technology Development Center, said residents and fisherfolks can now harvest, transport, sell, and eat shellfishes, such as oysters, mussels, and other bivalves as these are now free from the poisonous toxins.
The red-tide episode which was officially recorded on 27 January in Wawa, Bani spread through the waters of Anda, Bolinao and Alaminos City in the first quarter of 2012. Bani was first cleared of the toxins on 29 February.
Pangasinan Waters Now Red-Tide Free
PHILIPPINES - You can now eat fish, shellfish, toxin-free. After three long months of being infected with Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) or red tide, Pangasinan waters are now declared free from the toxic substance.
by Lucy Towers
