• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The coastal waters of Bacolod City and neighboring areas in Negros Occidental, like Talisay, Silay, Victorias, E.B. Magalona, and Hinigaran, remain free of the toxic red tide, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said June 11.
The BFAR said shellfishes collected and tested from the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, and of San Benito in Surigao del Norte are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.
“All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption,” BFAR officer-in-charge Isidro Velayo Jr. said.
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, he added.
The Department of Health said that red tide poisoning is a life-threatening syndrome associated with eating contaminated shellfish, caused by red tide microorganisms in shellfishes.
Onset of symptoms is rapid and can be felt within 12 hours from consumption of contaminated shellfishes, like a sense of numbness around the mouth or the face, dizziness, pricking sensation and/or paralysis of hands and feet, body weakness, rapid pulse beat, difficulty in talking, swallowing, breathing, headache, as well as abdominal pains, vomiting, and diarrhea.
“When there is a red tide warning, do not eat shellfishes, avoid eating alamang and small fishes, remove gills and intestines of fish, squids or crabs, and remove the heads of shrimps,” the DOH advisory said.
Aside from the coastal waters of Bacolod and Negros Occidental, areas free of red tide include the waters off Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate; Sorsogon Bay, and Juag Lagoon, Matnog in Sorsogon; Borongon, San Dionisio in Iloilo; Sapian Bay, Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; Mambuquiao and Camanci, Batan in Aklan; Altavas, Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan;
Coastal waters of Pontevedra, Panay, Pilar, Roxas City and President Roxas in Capiz; Tambobo, and Siit Bays, Siaton, and Bais Bay, Bais City in Negros Oriental; the 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; and of Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay in Palawan, among others. | CGC
