THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned on Tuesday that red tide continues to affect three coastal areas in Eastern Visayas.
Based on examinations of shellfish and seawater samples, three bays tested positive for toxic red tide exceeding the regulatory limit.
According to the latest national shellfish bulletin, Matarinao Bay in General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar is affected by red tide. Local red tide warnings have also been issued for Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City and Irong-irong Bay in Catbalogan City in the province of Samar.
Additionally, Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and the coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay are affected by red tide. BFAR is warning the public against catching, selling, or eating any type of shellfish, including small shrimp (Acetes sp., locally known as alamang or hipon), from these areas.
Fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs are safe to eat if they are fresh, washed thoroughly, and have their internal organs removed before cooking.
“To safeguard human lives, we are issuing this warning as precautionary advice to the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang or hipon, from these bays,” BFAR said in its local shellfish bulletin.
Consuming shellfish contaminated with red tide can pose a health threat and may lead to poisoning or even death. BFAR stated that the presence of red tide cysts in the region’s bays has triggered the recurrence of the phenomenon. Frequent rainfall can cause runoff of soil sediments rich in organic matter, which fertilizes the red tide cysts.
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