Fish catch in Manila Bay now safe to eat

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has declared that fish caught in Manila Bay are safe for human consumption over a month after the oil spill in Bataan.

This was after samples of fish from coastal towns and cities in Cavite passed tests, according to a BFAR bulletin on Friday, Aug. 30.

“Based on the results of the latest analyses, all samples of fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and shellfish collected on August 27 from Bacoor City, Cavite City, Noveleta, Rosario, and Tanza, five areas of which fish were previously declared still unsafe for human consumption, have now passed its third consecutive round of sensory evaluation, and are now therefore SAFE for human consumption,” the bureau announced.

The BFAR explained that fish and other seafood products can only be declared safe if the samples passed three consecutive batches of evaluation.

Naic, Ternate, Kawit, and Maragondon were the first Cavite towns to clear government assessments on Aug. 22.

On Aug. 13, the BFAR said samples from Bataan, Bulacan, and Pampanga, as well as Navotas, Manila, Parañaque, and Las Piñas in Metro Manila were free from oil and grease contamination. 

Coastal shores of Manila Bay were threatened by the oil spill from MTKR Terranova that capsized and sank in waters off Limay, Bataan on July 25. The tanker carried 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the oil spill affected over 25,000 families and more than 33,000 fisherfolk in Cavite.

He also said the “government intends to hold accountable all individuals responsible for the incidents.”

The Philippine Coast Guard said at least 300,000 liters of oily waste from the Terranova have been collected by the contracted salvor, Harbor Star.

MKTR Jason Bradley and MV Mirola 1 were two other vessels that recently caused trouble in Bataan waters.