The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has declared Bataan free of the deadly red tide toxin and lifted the shellfish ban it imposed last Oct. 19.

BFAR regional director Wilfredo Cruz said on Wednesday the latest shellfish bulletin declared the absence of red tide in the coastal waters of Bataan after laboratory tests showed negative results of the toxin from samples drawn from the areas.

Red tide toxin causes paralytic shellfish poisoning with symptoms including abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and numbness in the face and arms.

With the lifting of the ban, Cruz said that harvesting, transporting, selling and eating of shellfish from the coastal areas of Bataan are no longer prohibited.

Cruz welcomed the development, saying he was happy that finally, those dependent on shellfish for their livelihood can now heave a sigh of relief.

“Region 3 is red tide-free. Residents can now eat tahong (green mussels), talaba (oyster), and other shellfish from Bataan,” he said in a statement. (PNA)