BFAR: Carigara Bay and Litalit Bay added to ‘red tide’ list

FILE PHOTO: Bohol folk collect seashells despite a red tide scare in Tagbilaran Bay. In the background is Dauis town in Panglao Island. The BFAR has already banned the gathering and sale of shellfish from areas in Bohol contaminated with red tide toxins. SHERWIN SAPONG/CEBU DAILY NEWS

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Thursday reported that Carigara Bay in Leyte and Litalit Bay in San Benito, Surigao del Norte, have been added to the list of coastal areas in the country that are positive for red tide toxins.

In an advisory, BFAR said that shellfish collected in the following areas remain positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit:

• Coastal waters of Bataan (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay, and Samal)
• Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol
• Coastal waters of Guiuan, and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar
• Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur
• Coastal waters of Baroy in Lanao del Norte
• Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur

“Moreover, Carigara Bay in Leyte and Litalit Bay, San Benito in Surigao del Norte are now positive for the red tide toxin,” it added.

According to BFAR, all types of shellfish or acetes (alamang) gathered from the areas mentioned are not safe for consumption.

However, fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe as long as they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

The term “red tide” is used to describe the algal bloom phenomenon wherein the water is discolored by high concentrations of toxic and nontoxic algae in the water.

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