San Salvador, 14 sep (EFE).-the Government of El Salvador today lifted the ban to the extraction, marketing and consumption of five classes of molluscs, decreed on 25 August by the presence in the national waters of algae causing the phenomenon known as tide red.

“From this day no danger of eating oysters, mussels, clams, snails, and abalone, which was restricted by the presence of red tide”, announced on Wednesday the Ministry of environment through a press release.

The ban was issued 20 days ago because the National Commission of red tide (CONAMAR) found in some mollusks “a high level of toxins” harmful for human consumption, according to the information officer.

Recent analysis “guarantee that the national production of oysters, mussels, snails and clams, abalone is safe and fit for human consumption”, by which “from today all fishery products and aquaculture is can sell and eat freely,” added the official communiqué.

El Ministerio de Medio Ambiente explained that the red tide is due to “excessive proliferation” of microalgae producing toxins that accumulate in molluscs, which, in certain amounts, can affect the nervous system of humans and cause fatalities to consume them.

The ban was issued 20 days ago because the National Commission of red tide (CONAMAR) found in some mollusks “a high level of toxins” harmful for human consumption. EFE/file