SORSOGON CITY, Philippines -- Just a month after a shellfish ban in Sorsogon Bay was lifted, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued an advisory saying shellfish there is again not safe for human consumption.

According to the advisory dated May 8 and signed by BFAR director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr, "shellfish from Sorsogon Bay -- which is surrounded by the towns of Pilar, Castilla, Magallanes, Juban and Casiguran, and Sorsogon City -- is positive for the red tide toxin.”

The advisory was “based on the results of red tide monitoring activities of the BFAR and the provincial agriculturist office (PAO)."

BFAR warned against eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing shellfish from Sorsogon Bay, to avoid paralytic shellfish poisoning caused by red tide.

“Fish harvested from the area are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” the agency added.

BFAR is also maintaining its shellfish ban in Bislig Bay in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Masinloc Bay in Zambales, Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and coastal waters in Wawa, Pangasinan, according to the shellfish bulletin.

BFAR’s research arm, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) is researching toxin accumulation in commercial shellfish in Sorsogon Bay to identify shellfish not affected by red tide toxins, according to NFRDI aquaculturist Val Borja.

He said the findings of the study could help ease the negative effects of red tide in the province.

Sharon Escoto, PAO aquaculturist, said they decided to conduct the research upon receiving claims from fisherfolk that some types of shellfish are not affected by the red toxins.

Provincial agriculture officer David Gillego reminded residents, especially those living in the coastal areas, about the need proper disposal of wastes since water pollution has been contributing to red tide.