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BFAR issues red tide alert in VisMin

February 11, 2023 Cory Martinez 226 views

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

In its Shellfish Bulletin No. 04, the BFAR said 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; San Pedro Bay in Samar; Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; 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 added that all shellfish and alamang gathered from the said areas are unsafe for human consumption.

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

Meanwhile, the areas that continue to be free from toxic red tide are the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan, and Bataan in Manila Bay.

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