Fish in Sorsogon safe, says BFARFirst posted 04:10am (Mla time)...

Fish in Sorsogon safe, says BFAR

First posted 04:10am (Mla time) Mar 01, 2006
By Christine Gaylican
Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on page A7 of the March 1, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE LATEST tests conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources showed that fish caught in waters off Sorsogon contained low levels of mercury and were safe for human consumption.

Belinda S. Raymundo, chief of BFAR’s fisheries testing laboratory, said technicians examined not only water samples but also samples comprising at least 14 species of fish found in the coastal areas of Bagacay, Rizal, Barcelona and Prieto Diaz.

“The samples analyzed (had mercury levels of) 0.2 parts per million and within the standard limit of 0.5 parts per million (ppm) and are therefore safe for human consumption,” said Raymundo.

She said this was the fifth test conducted by BFAR in the area after mining effluents, including cyanide, from a mine operated by the Australian company Lafayette on Albay’s Rapu-Rapu island spilled into the sea in October last year.

The previous BFAR tests showed mercury content within the allowable limits of .002 ppm for water and 0.5 ppm for fish.

Company officials maintained that Lafayette did not use mercury in its operations and this was confirmed by the DENR.

The Feb. 9 BFAR study prompted Lafayette to issue a statement that “BFAR’s continuing tests consistently showed that there was no mercury contamination at all.”

The mercury contamination issue peaked when anti-mining groups sent their own fish samples to BFAR for testing without saying where the samples were taken and how.

“BFAR found the samples unfit to eat. Although unscientific, this analysis was what the Sorsogon groups used to scare people from eating Sorsogon fish, affecting the livelihood of their own fishermen in the process,” said the Lafayette statement. With Gil Francis G. Arevalo, Inquirer Southern Luzon Bureau

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The contanimation accusations and danger to consume fish has been unfounded from the start. The scare mongering from the minority groups has worked wonders.

It's time LAF take action against these unscientific types.

Compensation to LAF i say, NOT the other way around.