• CHERYL G. CRUZ
More areas in Visayas and Mindanao have been affected by the toxic red tide, although the coastal waters of Bacolod City and Negros Island, and neighboring Panay, remain free of the harmful algal bloom.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources officer-in-charge Isidro Velayo Jr., in an advisory Aug. 9, said that shellfishes collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte; Daram Island, Zumarraga Island, and Cambatutay Bay in Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Cancabato Bay in Leyte; Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay province are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), or toxic red tide, that is beyond the regulatory limit.
The Irong-Irong Bay and Villareal Bay in Samar have also been found positive for PSP, as per latest sampling, the BFAR added.
“All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption,” Velayo said.
But he said that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption so long as they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and the internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
The coastal waters of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Victorias, EB Magalona, and Hinigaran in Negros Occidental; Tambobo and Sit bays in Siaton; Bais Bay in Bais City in Negros Oriental; Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate; Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon; Borongon, San Dionisio in Iloilo; Sapian Bay in Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; Mambuquiao, Camanci, and Altavas in Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan; coastal waters of Pontevedra, Panay, Pilar, Roxas City and President Roxas in Capiz; and of Dauis and Tagbilaran in Bohol, among others, remain free of red tide, the BFAR added. | CGC
