Shellfish ban imposed in Bohol, Panay, Zamboanga del Sur

TOXIC BLOOM Tagbilaran Bay, which covers Bohol’s capital of Tagbilaran City and Dauis town, looks calm in this photo taken on Sunday but toxic algal blooms, better known as red tide toxins, lurk in its water, prompting the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to ban the gathering of shellfish and krill from the bay. —LEO UDTOHAN

TAGBILARAN CITY—The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has cautioned the public from eating all kinds of shellfish and krill, locally known as “alamang,” taken from the coastal waters of Bohol and some areas in Western Visayas and Zamboanga del Sur that tested positive for toxic red tide.

BFAR, in a social media post on Saturday, said the red tide alert was hoisted over the coastal waters of Dauis town and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur province; and provinces on Panay Island, including the coastal waters of Roxas City, and the towns of President Roxas, Panay and Pilar in Capiz; Batan Bay in Aklan; Sapian Bay of Capiz and Aklan; and the waters of Gigantes Islands of Carles, Iloilo.

Not safe

“(These) are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), or toxic red tide, that is beyond the regulatory limit,” the advisory said.

It added that all types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption.

However, fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe to eat, provided they are washed thoroughly and gutted before cooking, according to BFAR.

Shell and fish vendors in public markets in Tagbilaran City and Dauis assured that their goods are safe because they come from other areas in the province that are not affected by the red tide, local health authorities said. INQ

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