• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The coastal waters of the Negros Island Region remain free of the toxic red tide, per latest advisory from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
But shellfishes collected and tested from the coastal waters of Leyte in Leyte; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay province are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), or toxic red tide, that is beyond the regulatory limit.
All types of shellfish or alamang gathered from these areas are not SAFE for human consumption, BFAR national director Elizer Salilig said in a statement.
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 BFAR said that harvesting and selling shellfish from an area declared positive for red tide is strictly prohibited. “Consuming shellfish contaminated with red tide toxins can cause severe illnesses, including numbness, dizziness, breathing difficulty, and in severe cases, paralysis, or death.” | CGC
