Red tide rise prompts ban on shellfish from 2 areas

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has issued red tide alerts in parts of Masbate and Samar provinces, banning the gathering and sale of shellfish and warning people in those areas against eating the marine products.

In Samar, the BFAR Western Visayas office issued the alert in Irong Irong Bay. The Bicol regional office of BFAR issued the same warning in the coastal area of Mandaon, Masbate.

Dr. Juan Albaladejo, BFAR Eastern Visayas chief, said seashell samples taken in Irong Irong Bay tested positive for a variety of red tide toxin.

Albaladejo, in an advisory issued on Monday, said fish caught in Irong Irong Bay may be safe to eat “provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly and their internal organs are removed before cooking.”

The BFAR and local government units near Irong Irong Bay are monitoring the gathering of seafood products from the bay to safeguard public health. Catbalogan City and the town of Tarangnan in Samar have jurisdiction over the bay.

In Bicol, the BFAR banned the gathering of shellfish in the coastal area of Mandaon town in Masbate province after tests made on June 8 on shellfish samples showed red tide toxins exceeding the safe level of 60 unimicrogram per 100 grams.

The tests showed toxin levels reached 74-76 unimicrograms per 100 grams, according to Irmi B. Mora, head of BFAR Bicol’s regional fisheries health management and diagnostic laboratory.Jennifer Sumagang-Allegado, Inquirer Visayas and Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon