SORSOGON CITY --- Thousands of fishermen here rejoiced after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources lifted the shellfish ban imposed on Sorsogon Bay and twenty-six other coastal areas in the country.

        BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento authorized the lifting of the ban as contained in Shellfish Advisory No. 7 dated April 11, 2008 but was received at the Provincial Agriculture Office only yesterday.

        The BFAR director said shellfish collected from the bay tested negative from red tide as shown by the negative results for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) obtained from three consecutive weeks of sampling in the area.

        As a result, the BFAR declared that shellfish harvested from Sorsogon Bay were already safe for human consumption and already authorized for sale.

        The ban was imposed in September 2006 following a number of shellfish poisoning which claimed at least 13 lives and sent almost a hundred to hospitals.

        Aside from Sorsogon Bay, BFAR also lifted shellfish ban in the coastal waters of Bolinao, Alaminos and Anda in Pangasinan, Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate,Hinigaran, Talisay City, Bacolod City, Victorias City, EB Magalona, Pontevedra, Valladolid, San Enrique and Polopandan in Negros Oriental; Ormoc, San Pedro, Cancabato and Carigara Bay in Leyte Sibuguey Bay in Sibugay, Zamboanga, Hinatuan and Lianga Bays in Surigao Del Sur, Taguines Lagoon in Camiguin Island, Balite Bay in Mati Davao Oriental and Irong-irong Bay in Catbalogan, Samar, Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon, Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan.