Shellfish ban as red tide alert up in 8 Bataan towns

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday imposed a shellfish ban in some parts of Bataan province as samples taken from the coastal areas tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison, or red tide toxin.

Wilfredo Cruz, BFAR Central Luzon director, warned against consuming and trading shellfish and “alamang” (acetes shrimp) from the towns of Orani, Hermosa, Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Samal, Abucay and this city.

Cruz said shellfish meat taken from these areas had traces of microorganism that caused the red tide toxin. He said monitoring of the affected coastal waters was being undertaken by the BFAR to safeguard public health.

Red tide toxin can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory and neurological disorders in humans. —Greg Refraccion