• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The coastal waters of Negros Island Region continue to be free of the toxic red tide, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said.
Aside from Bacolod, the coastal waters of Talisay, Silay, E.B. Magalona, Victorias, and Hinigaran in Negros Occidental, as well as Tambobo, Siit Bays, Siaton, and Bais Bay in Negros Oriental are among several areas across the country that remain free of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit, the BFAR said in its Feb. 13 advisory.
PSP is a potentially fatal syndrome caused by eating contaminated bivalve shellfish, such as mussels and oysters, that contain saxitoxin from algae, which persists even after cooking or freezing, the BFAR explained in an earlier Philippine News Agency report.
“Symptoms typically appear within 30 minutes, with a burning sensation around the lips, mouth, and tongue that could lead to respiratory failure, paralysis, and death within 24 hours, if not treated immediately,” it added.
DA-BFAR national director Elizer Salilig, meanwhile, said that shellfishes collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay Province; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, and the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda in Pangasinan are still positive for PSP.
“All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption,” Salilig stressed. “Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and the internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.” | CGC
