The coastal waters of Bataan are now contaminated with the red tide toxin, prompting the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to impose a shellfish ban. BFAR Regional Office 3 Director Wilfredo Cruz said water samples from the coastal towns of Orani, Samal, Hermosa, Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Abucay and Balanga City have been found positive of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP). “The toxin level collected from the said areas is at 61 to 1200 ugSTXeg/100g of shellfish meat which is above the regulatory limit of 60 micrograms per 100 grants of shellfish meat,” Cruz said in an advisory issued last Wednesday.

Supnad, M. T., & Regala, F. G. (2017, November 18). Bataan waters positive of red tide. Manila Bulletin, p. 6.