• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Visayas has cautioned the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and “alamang” harvested in the waters of Bais Bay in Bais City, Negros Oriental.
BFAR7 OIC regional director Mario Ruinata, in a local red tide warning dated Sept. 6, said that “based on laboratory analysis conducted by the Regional Fisheries Laboratory, the shellfish samples collected in Bais Bay on Aug. 12 was screened positive for the presence of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP)”.
This warning is issued as a precautionary advice to safeguard human lives and mitigate the impacts on the shellfish industry while waiting for the results of the confirmatory analysis, Ruinata added. “The BFAR and local government unit will continuously monitor the area to safeguard public health and protect the shellfish industry.”
The BFAR national office, in its latest shellfish bulletin dated Aug. 30, meanwhile, said that shellfishes collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; the coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte; Daram Island, Zumarraga Island, Irong-Irong Bay, and Cambatutay Bay in Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Carigara Bay in Leyte; coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay Province; Maqueda Bay in Samar; and Puerto Princesa Bay, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan are still positive for PSP, or toxic red tide, that is beyond the regulatory limit.
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 advisory said. | CGC
