BFAR issues red tide alert in 7 coastal areas

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) on Tuesday issued a red tide alert on seven coastal areas in six provinces.

The DA-BFAR’s Shellfish Bulletin No. 06 dated March 26 said that shellfishes collected and tested from the following coastal areas remained positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP), more popularly known as toxic red tide, beyond the regulatory limit:

• coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate;
• coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol;
• San Pedro Bay in Samar and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar;
• Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and
• coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte.

“All types of shellfish and acetes or alamang gathered from the areas shown above are not safe for human consumption,” the DA-BFAR said in its statement.

The agency also reminded the public that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

Meanwhile, the following areas remained free from toxic red tide:

• coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan, and Batsan (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay, and Samal) in Manila Bay;
• mariculture areas in Infanta, coastal waters of Bolinao, Anda, Alaminos, Sual, and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan;
• mariculture areas in Rosario, and Sto. Tomas in La Union;
• coastal waters of Pampanga;
• Masinloc Bay in Zambales;
• Pagbilao Bay, Pagbilao, and coastal waters of Walay, Padre Burgos in Quezon;
• Honda, and coastal waters of Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay in Palawan;
• coastal waters of Mandaon in Masbate;
• Sorsogon Bay, and Juag Lagoon, Matnog in Sorsogon;
• coastal waters of Borongon, San Dionisio in Tioilo;
• Saplan Bay (Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; Mambuquiao and Camanci, Batan in Aklan);
• coastal waters of Altavas, Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan;
• coastal waters of Pontevedra;
• Panay Pilar;
• Roxas City and President Roxas in Capiz;
• coastal waters of E.B. Magalona, Talisay City, Silay City, Bacolod City, Hinigaran, and Victorias City in Negros Occidental;
• Tambobo, and Silt Bays, Siaton; and Bais Bay, Bais City in Negros Oriental;
• coastal waters of Daram, Calbayog, and Zumarraga, Cambatutay, Irong-irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar;
• coastal waters of Guiuan in Eastern Samar;
• coastal waters of Leyte, Calubian, Ormoc, Sogod, and Carigara Bay and Cancabato, Tacloban City in Leyte;
• coastal waters of Biliran Island;
• Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay, Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte, and (Sapang Dalaga, and Baliangao) in Misamis Occidental;
• Pangull Bay, Tangub City, and coastal waters of Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental;
• coastal waters of Baroy in Lanao del Norte;
• Taguines Lagoon, Benoni, Mahinog in Camiguin; Balite, and Pujada Bays, Mati City in Davao Oriental;
• Tagabuli Bay in Davao del Sur;
• Malalag Bay in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur; and
• coastal waters of Hinatuan, Lianga, and Cortes, and Bistig Bay in Surigao del Sur.

— DVM, GMA Integrated News