• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that toxic red tide has been noted in more bays and coastal waters, mostly in Samar.
The waters of Bacolod and Negros, and neighboring Panay, meanwhile, remain free of red tide, as per latest monitoring, the BFAR said in an advisory over the weekend.
Shellfishes collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte; Daram Island, Irong-Irong Bay, Villareal Bay, and Cambatutay Bay in Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Cancabato Bay in Leyte; and the coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sigubay Bay are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), or toxic red tide, that is beyond the regulatory limit, BFAR officer-in-charge Isidro Velayo Jr. said.
The Maqueda Bay in Samar, and Puerto Bay, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan are now also positive for PSP, he added.
All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption, the latest shellfish bulletin states. “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.”
The coastal waters of Bacolod City, Talisay City, Silay City, E.B. Magalona, Victorias City, and Hinigaran in Negros Occidental; Tambobo and Siit bays in Siaton, and Bais Bay in Negros Oriental; as well as of Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate; Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon, Matnog in Sorsogon;
Coastal waters of Borongon, San Dionisio in Iloilo; Sapian Bay of Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; Mambuquiao, Camanci, Altavas, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan; and of Pontevedra, Panay, Pilar, Roxas City, and President Roxas in Capiz; among others, continue to be free of red tide, the BFAR assured. | CGC
