Shellfish banned in 10 areas due to red tide

MANILA, Philippines — Shellfish ban is up in 10 areas all over the country as red tide toxins continued to plague several provinces, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reported.

The red tide-infested bays include the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; San Pedro Bay in Western Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur. Carigara Bay in Leyte and the coastal waters of Biliran Island are now positive for red tide.

“Red tide” is used to describe the algal bloom phenomenon wherein the water is discolored by high concentrations of toxic and nontoxic algae.

—KARL R. OCAMPO