3 Pangasinan areas declared red tide-free

DAGUPAN CITY—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) declared the coastal waters of Alaminos City and two western Pangasinan towns free of red tide toxin, effectively lifting the ban on  consumption and trade of shellfish gathered from those areas.

The BFAR bulletin on April 17 said Anda and Bolinao towns and the city of Alaminos were no longer plagued by paralytic shellfish poison. It cited lab test results from BFAR and local governments that showed that shrimps, crabs, mussels and oysters from these areas were fit for human consumption.

On Feb. 29, BFAR lifted the ban on shellfish gathering along Wawa River in Bani, the first town to be hit by red tide this year.

The toxin was first detected in Wawa River on Jan. 6 and spread to Bolinao and Anda on Feb. 9, and later to the waters of Alaminos.

Nestor Domenden, BFAR Ilocos director, said the agency had asked local officials to require their market inspectors, quarantine officers and administrators to demand clearances from government inspectors for shellfish and other marine products delivered to and traded in their markets. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon