Fish, shellfish from Cavite now safe to eat after Bataan oil spill — BFAR

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Tuesday said that fish and shellfish caught in Cavite are now safe for human consumption following tests amid the oil spill incidents off the Manila Bay side of Bataan.

BFAR Assistant Director Angel Encarnacion said that the bureau continues to monitor the situation in all affected provinces.

“Based on our latest sensory evaluation, fish and shellfish from all regions - that includes Region 3, 4A, (National Capital Region) are already safe for human consumption,” he told the House Committee on Ecology during a hearing.

“We continuously monitor all the sites, specifically in the province of Cavite. We are just waiting for the results of the PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon),” Encarnacion added.

BFAR earlier said that only fish from Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Navotas, Paranaque, and Las Pinas were safe to eat then after being cleared from traces of oil and grease and harmful contaminants like PAH.

The Cavite provincial government earlier sought P10 million compensation from the owners of MTKR Terranova, the first of the three vessels that caused the oil spill, for the effects of the leakage to the livelihoods of its residents. 

Cavite 1st District Rep. Jolo Revilla asked the BFAR to provide the provincial government a copy of the results of the sensory test amid the fishing ban.

“Halos isang buwan na ho, hindi nakakapag layag yung mga mangingisda doon. Ang kailangan na lang siguro ay mabigyan ng kopya ng sensory test at yung isa pang test,” Revilla said. 

(It’s been almost a month that our fishermen have not been able to do go out and fish. I think it would be better if you can provide a copy of the results of the sensory test and the other one [PAH].)

“Sa bawat layag nila kada araw, kausap ko po yung mangingisda namin doon, minimum P500 a day ang kanilang kinikita. Pero sa ngayon, hindi pa po sila nakakapag layag muli. Siyempre hindi lang naman mangingisda ang naiipit dito, pati fish vendor, pati yung mambibilad, apektado dito,”  he added.

(I talked to our fishermen and they earn P500 a day whenever they fish. But they cannot do that for now. Aside from fishermen, the fish vendors and fish dryers are also affected.)

The BFAR said it will comply with Revilla’s request while waiting for the results of the PAH test in Cavite this week.

The bureau said the recent series of oil leak incidents in the waters off Bataan have affected 28,000 fisherfolk and has resulted in an estimated daily income loss of P9.8 million.—RF, GMA Integrated News