By Marisol Bo-oc | 01:17 PM November 13, 2021
Consumers were warned against the consumption of shellfishes collected from Dauis and Tagbilaran City where toxic ‘red tide’ persists.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) identified the affected areas as the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; coastal waters of Biliran Island; coastal waters of Daram Island, Maqueda, Villareal, Cambatutay, Irong-Irong, and San Pedro Bays in Western Samar; Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; coastal waters of Baroy in Lanao del Norte; Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur; and coastal waters of Bataan (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay and Samal).
According to the latest laboratory results from BFAR, shellfishes collected from these coastal waters “are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.”
All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from the affected coastal waters are not safe for human consumption, the agency said.
Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs, however, are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
Meanwhile, Carigara Bay, and coastal waters of Leyte have been declared free of red tide.
