Red tide warning up for Visayas, Mindanao areas

BFAR

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has reported that shellfish from certain areas in the Visayas and Mindanao are still testing positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), or toxic red tide.

The agency identified shellfish and acetes (alamang) from the following locations as containing toxins beyond their regulatory limits:

• Coastal waters of Pontevedra in Capiz
• Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol
• Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur
• Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur
• Coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte

The BFAR advised the public against harvesting, selling, buying, or consuming shellfish from these areas.

“All types of shellfish and Acetes [species] or alamang gathered from the areas shown above are not safe for human consumption,” the BFAR stated in its advisory on Thursday.

According to the agency’s website, consuming shellfish contaminated with PSP can lead to gastrointestinal and neurological illnesses in humans.

However, the BFAR clarified that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe to eat if they are fresh and thoroughly washed and their internal organs, like gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.

In a follow-up to their previous advisory on Monday, the BFAR announced that the waters of Sapian Bay (Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz, and Mambuquiao and Camanci in Batan, Aklan), Roxas City in Capiz, and Gigantes Islands in Carles, Iloilo, are now clear of toxic red tide.