Capiz map
ILOILO CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has cleared the waters of three towns in the province of Capiz from the presence of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) which causes “red tide.”
In three separate shellfish advisories on Wednesday, February 22, the BFAR cited three consecutive weeks of sampling in the coastal waters of Panay, Pilar, and President Roxas.
This disclosure from the country’s fisheries authority means that shellfish harvested from the coastal waters of the three towns are now considered to be safe for human consumption.
“[T]he public is hereby informed that shellfish samples harvested from coastal waters of [Panay, Pilar, and President Roxas] in Capiz are now safe for human consumption. Likewise, gathering and/or harvesting and marketing of shellfish from the above-mentioned area are now permitted,” the three advisories stated.
The three towns have been the subject of BFAR’s shellfish bulletins on toxic red tide until Tuesday, February 21.
But the BFAR added in these advisories that they are coordinating with the local governments of these towns to continue monitoring the coastal waters “to safeguard public health and to protect the fishery industry.”
Capiz’s capital, Roxas City, distinct from the President Roxas town despite the similar name, was also stated in BFAR’s Shellfish Bulletin No. 6, along with the other towns of Ivisan and Sapian to be free from toxic red tide.
All other coastal waters in Western Visayas were also expressly stated by the BFAR in the same bulletin to be free from the toxin.
Meanwhile, coastal waters of five areas in the country remained positive for PSP, according to the BFAR. These are Milagros in Masbate, San Pedro Bay in Samar, Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, and Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur.
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