Shrimp, crabs safe to eat again – BFAR

THE ENTIRE country is now clear of red tide toxins, with the alerts on all coastal waters previously affected now lifted, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced.

In its latest bulletin, BFAR said shellfish collected in coastal waters being monitored were found negative for paralytic shellfish poison.

The number of areas placed on alert reached 11, most of them around Panay island and between the islands of Samar and Leyte.

The BFAR had banned the harvesting, sale and eating of all types of shellfish and krill-like prawns or alamang in these areas which were placed under a red tide alert.

Fish, squid, shrimp and crabs are now safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, with their internal organs such as gills and intestines removed before cooking.

Red tide is caused by the explosive blooming of harmful algae that produce toxins that are harmful to people and other animal life forms that live in the water.

According to the BFAR, such blooms turn the water red—though sometimes yellow, brown, green, blue or milky—such that the phenomenon is popularly referred to as a red tide.

The BFAR said that, although red tides may be sometimes harmless, they are almost always harmful—possibly causing human illnesses that can be debilitating or even fatal.

“Severity depends on the amount of toxin ingested,” the BFAR said in a primer. “Initial reactions are tingling of the lips and tongue, which spreads to the face, neck, fingertips and toes.”

These symptoms are followed by headache, dizziness and nausea. In severe cases, muscular paralysis and difficulty breathing may happen within five to 12 hours of toxin ingestion.