SAMAL, Bataan, Philippines — Officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned Thursday that the red tide alert is up in the coast of Bataan and a part of Zambales and called for a halt to the gathering, sale and consumption of all types of shellfish in the area.

Bataan Provincial Agriculture Officer Imelda Nieto said the BFAR-Region 3 Office issued the ban on the eating, harvesting, transporting and marketing of shellfish from seven towns and one city of this province as well as the coastal town of Masinloc, Zambales last Tuesday.

Nieto, quoting the order from the BFAR, said the coastal waters in these areas were tested positive for the red tide toxin.

“Based on the results of red tide monitoring activities of BFAR and the red tide monitoring center in Bataan, shellfishes collected from Bataan coastal waters in Balanga City and the towns of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Abucay, Samal and Orani are now positive for the red tide toxin,” Nieto quoted the BFAR advisory as stating.

She said that red tide toxin level in shellfish samples collected Tuesday night from these areas is from 70 to 5,617 grams Saxi-Toxin (STX) g/100g of shellfish meat,” according to the BFAR advisory.

The tolerable limit is only 60g STXg/100g shellfish meat.

Nieto said 71-year-old woman – identified by local health authorities as Melinda Rongcal Lucio, in Barangay Tabing-ilog, here – died of cardio-respiratory arrest caused by red tide poisoning from eating shellfish harvested in this town.

“It was so alarming and saddening that one died but had we not learned of the presence of red tide this early, many would have died or been hospitalized,” said Mayor Gene dela Fuente.

The victim’s husband Raymundo Lucio, 71, and grandson Bryan Lucio, 12, were also hospitalized after eating “adobong sulib,” a shellfish delicacy, which the old man cooked.

Two others from the coastal village, identified as Remedios dela Cruz and Dexter Esconde, were taken to the hospital for vomiting, stomach ache and numbness of the lips.

The two, likewise, ate sulib harvested from the coast of Tabing-Ilog, said Barangay Chairman Glenn Velasco. Their condition was improving as of press time Thursday afternoon.

According to Inieto, they had collected samples of not only sulib but also “tahong” or green mussels and “talaba” or oysters. (With a report from Franco G. Regala)