FISH, SHELLFISH FROM CAVITE STILL NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION  —  BFAR

FISH and shellfish from the coastal areas of Cavite  are still unsafe for human consumption following the oil spill, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said.

According to the Bataan Oil Spill Bulletin of the BFAR dated August 13, 2024, fish and shellfish harvested from Bacoor City to Maragondon in Cavite are still not safe to eat.

The prohibition was based on the on-the on-ground monitoring and assessment of potentially affected fishing areas and communities surrounding Manila Bay conducted by the BFAR.

BFAR said fish samples are regularly collected and analyzed for traces of oil and grease and the presence of harmful contaminants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

Meanwhile, BFAR said fish from Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, and Metro Manila such as Navotas, Parañaque, and Las Piñas, are safe for human consumption.

On July 25, 2024, the Philippine-flagged industrial fuel tanker MT Terra Nova capsized and sank in Manila Bay, off the east coast of Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, causing an ongoing oil spill.

The tanker was carrying nearly 1.5 million liters of industrial oil.