Bani cleared of red tide; other areas still infected
SHELLFISH from Wawa, Bani is now free from the Harmful Algal Blood (HAB) or red tide and is safe again for consumption.
According to Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center based in Dagupan, the laboratory tests on shellfish samples from Wawa, Bani turned out negative of HAB for the past three weeks.
However, no clearance has yet been given for the coastal waters of Alaminos City, Anda and Bolinao, which means that the ban on the gathering of oysters, mussels and other bivalves from there is still in effect.
Rosario, however, foresees the lifting of the shellfish ban in these areas soon with the emergence of wet summer.
It is usually during the rainy days when HAB microorganism dies out for lack of sufficient sunlight, he added.
DAGUPAN OYSTERS
Rosario also reiterated there is no red tide episode in Dagupan City owing to the fresh water that flows from the Cordillera mountains.
The freshwater from upstream balances the salinity of water in the coastal areas of Dagupan, giving no room for HAB to grow.
Rosario called on fish farmers to let the oyster mature longer as this will mean bigger products that can command a higher price.
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