BFAR warns of red tide in Bohol waters
Marine life in Bohol | PHOTO: Bohol-Philippines website
TAGBILARAN CITY––The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned people about the presence of red tide toxins in shellfish taken in some coastal waters of Bohol.
In an advisory dated Dec. 29, the BFAR advised the public not to harvest or eat shellfish in Dauis town and Tagbilaran City.
BFAR also identified several coastal areas in the country that have tested positive for red tide: Bataan (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay and Samal); Milagros in Masbate; Leyte and Carigara Bay in Leyte; Guiuan, and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Litalit Bay, San Benito in Surigao del Norte; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur.
The other areas are San Pedro Bay in Samar; Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; and Biliran Island.
“All types of shellfish or alamang gathered from the areas are not safe for human consumption,” the BFAR said.
Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” it added.
