Despite the eruption of Taal Volcano, the consumption of fish from Taal Lake is safe, according to the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA- BFAR). The assurance came after the Department of Health (DoH) last week warned the public not to buy and eat fish from Taal Lake and nearby Batangas province, saying sulfur from the rumbling volcano could affect marine life there. People who eat fish from the lake could experience stomach pains and vomiting, the DoH said. In its latest advisory, however, the DA said BFAR’s laboratory analyses for water and fish samples revealed that eating fish from Taal Lake is safe “but it must be confined to those that are fresh and caught alive.”“Caught fish must be washed thoroughly, internal organs removed and cooked properly,” the DA-BFAR added. Tawilis, a freshwater sardine, is an endangered fish species that can only be found in the Philippines.

Source: Manila Times January 20, 2020 17:26 UTC