THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has banned the harvesting of all types of shellfish and Acetes Sp. or “alamang” in some coastal areas in Visayas and Mindanao due to the presence of toxic red tide in said areas.

In its Shellfish Bulletin No. 01, Series of 2023, the BFAR reported that shellfishes collected and tested from the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; coastal waters of Panay, President Roxas, and Pilar in Capiz; coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Irong-irong, and San Pedro Bays in Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur are still positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.

The BFAR said that all types of shellfish and alamang gathered from the areas mentioned are “not safe for human consumption.”

However, the fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs being harvested in the same areas are safe for human consumption, provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and that the internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.

Meanwhile, the Sapian Bay (Ivisan and Sapian) and the coastal waters of Roxas City in Capiz are now free of the toxic red tide.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Cory Martinez