HARVESTING any type of shellfish in several bays and coastal areas in the Visayas and Mindanao has been prohibited in view of the presence of toxic red tide or paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) in those areas.

In its Shellfish Bulletin No. 20, Series of 2023, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said that the shellfishes collected from coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; and Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur are still positive for toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.

The BFAR also reported that Saplan Bay (Ivisan and Saplan in Capiz; Mambuquiao and Camanci, Batan in Aklan); coastal waters of Panay; President Roxas; Roxas City in Capiz; coastal waters of Gigantes Islands, Carles in Iloilo; and coastal waters of Altavas, Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan are now also positive for PSP.

The BFAR said that all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from those bodies of water are not safe for human consumption.

However, fish, squids, shrimps and crabs harvested in the same areas are fit 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 coastal waters of Cavite, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay are red tide-free.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Cory Martinez