BFAR raises red tide alert in 2 Pangasinan towns

Pangasinan (Image from Google Maps)

DAGUPAN CITY – Red tide toxins have been detected in the waters off the Pangasinan towns of Anda and Bolinao, triggering alerts against the gathering, sale and consumption of shellfish and alamang (acetes shrimp) in these coastal communities.

The Anda and Bolinao governments were sent red tide advisories by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Saturday (April 27) after bio-assay tests confirmed the presence of toxins generated by algal blooms, said Remely Lachica, senior aquaculturist of the BFAR Ilocos regional office.

The results have been transmitted to the BFAR central office, she said.

Fish, squids and crabs in red tide-infested waters are safe for human consumption provided they are freshly caught and are washed thoroughly. Their internal organs must be removed before cooking.

The last time Anda and Bolinao experienced a red tide incident was on May 2017. /jpv