BFAR: No ban on fish amid radiation scare

By Charlie Lagasca

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has not imposed any ban on the consumption of marine products from Batanes amid the radiation scare from earthquake-devastated Japan.

Dr. Jovita Ayson, BFAR-Cagayan Valley director, said it was premature to declare such a ban since the tiny island province is still free from any radiation.

“Unless the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, the lead agency on this matter, will declare it, it is still too premature to declare a ban on eating raw fish yet from Batanes waters,” she said.

“Besides, Japan is too far from Batanes, and I think we should get the opinion of PNRI on radioactive contamination before we make such a move,” she added.

Ayson’s statement allayed fears of residents of possible nuclear contamination from eating raw fish caught in Batanes, which is the nearest Philippine territory to Japan.

It also came as Batanes Gov. Vicente Gato advised coastal villagers to avoid eating raw fish as a preventive measure against the possible effects from the radiation leak from a damaged reactor in Japan’s Fukushima prefecture as a result of the quake-triggered tsunami there last March 10.

Dr. Tita Callueng, Department of Health regional director, said there was so far nothing to fear about radiation in Batanes or any part of northern Philippines from eating fish caught there.

“Provided that the fish was not imported directly from Japan, I don’t see any reason why we should fear possible contamination from it,” Callueng said.