MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ seven coastal waters are positive for red tide, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Wednesday.
The seven coastal waters are: Bolinao in Pangasinan; Milagros in Masbate; Dauis in Bohol; Tagbilaran in Bohol; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Litalit Bay in Surigao del Norte; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur.
READ: Red tide warning up in Bolinao, Pangasinan
BFAR chief information officer Nazzer Briguera warned the public against eating shellfish from the said areas as it is poisonous.
READ: Shellfish banned in 10 areas due to red tide
“Ang lahat po na nabanggit na lugar ay positibo sa red tide at lahat po ng uri ng shellfish tulad po ng tahong, talaba, gayundin po itong alamang mula sa mga katubigang ito ay hindi ligtas kainin dahil ito po ay nakalalason,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
(All mentioned areas are positive for red tide and all shellfish like mussels and oysters from these waters are unsafe to consume because they are poisonous.)
However, fishes, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe to eat as long as they are fresh and cleaned before being cooked, Briguera said.
He explained that the paralytic shellfish poison is not harmful to the animals, but is dangerous for people’s consumption.
“From the term itself, paralytic shellfish poison, ang tao po na nakakain ng shellfish na may red tide na tinatawag natin ay nagkakaroon ng pagka-paralisa sa kanyang pangangatawan,” he elaborated.
(From the term itself, paralytic shellfish poison; a person who will eat shellfish from the red tide waters will have paralysis in their body.)
“Nagsisimula po ito sa pagkamanhid ng kanyang mukha, pananakit ng ulo. So, ito po ‘yung mga senyales na nakakain siya ng shellfish na may poison,” added Briguera.
(It will start with numbness of the face and a headache. These are the signs that a person consumed poisonous shellfish.)
Briguera advised fisherfolk to concentrate their catch on fish and other kinds of seafood that are not shellfish.
Red tide is a phenomenon wherein the water is discolored due to high algal biomass.