File photo of mussels in Bacoor (Photo from Bacoor City Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs's Facebook page/MANILA BULLETIN)
CAVITE – Fisherfolk in the province’s coastal areas can now harvest and sell mussels, clams, and other seafood, following weeks of shellfish ban due to the oil spill from the sunken tanker MT Terra Nova off Limay, Bataan.
On Thursday, Aug. 29, Gov. Jonvic Remulla said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has declared shellfish from Cavite safe to consume.
“Para sa kaalaman ng lahat, ayon kay Sec. Laurel ng Kagawaran ng Agrikultura, malaya na po manghuli at magtinda ng mga tahong at tulya mula sa Cavite (For everyone's information, according to Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel of the Department of Agriculture, it is now permitted to catch and sell mussels and clams from Cavite),” Remulla posted on Facebook.
“Ito ay pagkatapos ng dalawang confirmatory test ng BFAR na ligtas na sa lason ang ating mga tahong. Mga bro, pwede na ulit pulutan ang tahong-chips-ahoy (This decision comes after two confirmatory tests by BFAR, confirming that our mussels are now safe from toxins. So, bros, you can enjoy mussel chips as a bar snack once again)."
On Aug. 28, President Marcos extended cash assistance to Caviteño fisherfolk affected by the oil spill in a ceremonial turnover in Gen. Trias City.
During his speech, he announced that fisherfolk in Cavite coastal areas could return to fishing.
“Nasabihan ako ni Sec. Kiko Laurel ng DA na mula ngayon ay maaari nang mangisda, wala nang oil spill, pwede nang ituloy ang inyong hanap-buhay (Sec. Kiko Laurel of the Department of Agriculture informed me that starting today, you can go back to fishing, the oil spill has been cleared, and you can resume your livelihood)," the president said during his speech, streamed live through Facebook.
President Marcos extended cash assistance to oil spill-affected Caviteño fisherfolk in a turnover ceremony in Gen. Trias City on Aug. 28 (Noel Pabalate/MANILA BULLETIN)
The president also mentioned that authorities are investigating the sinking of the ships to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure that the affected citizens will receive appropriate compensation.
On Aug. 1, Remulla signed Executive Order No. 38—Series 2024, declaring a no-catch and no-sell zone for all shellfish in the coastal areas of Cavite due to the impact of the Bataan oil spill.