CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — No oil spills have been detected in the Manila Bay coastal areas of Central Luzon.

This was the response of Wilfredo Cruz, Central Luzon Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), when asked if there were any areas in the region affected by oil spills from ships that recently sank or ran aground off the coast of Manila Bay in the province of Bataan.

As of August 7, Cruz said that oil spills were only detected in the coastal areas of the province of Cavite, with none reported in Central Luzon.

Recently, Cruz and his team, along with other fishpond stakeholders in Bulacan, conducted a sensory evaluation of fish caught in the coastal areas of the province and found no evidence of oil spills.

Some cultured fish from fishponds were also subjected to sensory evaluation, and the harvested milkfish samples tested negative for contamination. The BFAR team and fish stakeholders later cooked and ate the milkfish to demonstrate that fish caught in the coastal areas of Bulacan are safe to eat.

Cruz also told ARKIPELAGO NEWS BULACAN that there has been a marked decline in the demand for fish caught or cultured in Bulacan’s coastal areas, with a decrease of as much as 90 percent.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) issued another Bataan oil spill bulletin on August 7.

The agency reported that it has been conducting on-ground monitoring and assessment of fishing areas and communities potentially affected by three consecutive maritime incidents in the waters of Bataan: the oil spill following the capsizing and sinking of the motor tanker (MT) Terra Nova near the coast of Lamao Point in Limay on July 25, and MTKR Jayson Bradley in the shallow waters of Mariveles on July 27, 2024; as well as the running aground of MV Mirola 1 in the vicinity of the waters of Mariveles on July 31, 2024.

The DA-BFAR has deployed personnel to catch landing sites and local markets in the affected and nearby areas to ensure that oil spill-contaminated seafood does not reach consumers and to evaluate market dynamics to maintain the price stability of fish.

DA-BFAR’s floating assets have been mobilized to assist partner agencies in monitoring and surveillance, clean-up operations, and the fabrication and deployment of oil spill booms using used nets and coco fiber. DA-BFAR has been in close coordination with the Provincial Local Government Units and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) to expedite the early recovery program.

The Bureau is set to release fuel subsidies and additional food packs/relief packages to mitigate the impact of the oil spill on the livelihoods of displaced fishers. Additionally, the agency is also validating alternative areas for capture fishing.

As a safety measure, the Bureau advises against consuming fish caught in areas where oil slicks have been observed. This is to avoid incidents of food poisoning due to ingesting contaminated seafood. DA-BFAR also urges fisherfolk and the general public to remain calm and monitor the situation through updates issued by government authorities.

📷 Mon Lazaro