
BFAR lifts fishing ban in 10 Or. Mindoro towns
FISHING activities in ten municipalities in Oriental Mindoro are now open, which leaves only three towns with a fishing ban.
In its Oriental Mindoro Oil Spill Bulletin No. 6, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said that the latest municipalities that were cleared for fishing activities are the fishing waters of Calapan, Bansud, and Gloria.
The BFAR disclosed that the fishing waters of said municipalities are now well within the standards for fishing activities.
Likewise, the BFAR’s analyses also showed that the fishing waters of Bongabong, Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Baco, Puerto Galera, and San Teodoro remained “safe” for fishing activities.
However, the fishing ban is still effective in the fishing waters of Pola, Pinamalayan, and Naujan due to the risk of contamination from traces of oil that have yet to be removed from these areas.
The BFAR has been monitoring the situation in affected fishing areas since the oil spill in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, from the sunken MT Princess Empress.
The latest analyses of the BFAR showed that traces of oil and grease in water samples slightly increased in all sampling sites in comparison to the baseline data, but these were still within the standard limit of < 3.0 mg/L for Class SC waters or those suited for boating and fishing activities, as well as fish propagation intended for commercial and sustenance purposes.
Meanwhile, the trend indicated that the PAH amount present in seafood from Oriental Mindoro had stabilized to much lower concentrations.
The BFAR assured that it will continue its time-series observation in the province, which will be the basis of its recommendations for concerned government agencies and local government offices.