Avoid shellfish, alamang from Visayas, Mindanao, public told
THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic (BFAR) has banned the harvesting of all shellfish and Acetes sp. (alamang) in several bodies of waters in Visayas and Mindanao due to the presence of toxic red tide.
In its Shellfish Bulletin No. 23, the BFAR said that shellfishes collected and tested from Sapian Bay (Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz, Mambuquiao and Camanci, Batan in Aklan); coastal waters of Panay; Pilar; President Roxas; Roxas City in Capiz; coastal waters of Gigantes Islands, Carles in Iloilo; coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; and Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur are still positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) or toxic red tide.
The BFAR added that all shellfish and Acetes sp. gathered from these bodies of water are not safe for human consumption.
However, fish, squids, shrimps and crabs harvested from the same areas are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and the internal organs are removed before cooking.
Meanwhile, the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay and Samal) in Manila Bay are free toxic red tide.
