Res tide alert up in Bataan; harvest of shellfish banned
HARVESTING of all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang in the coastal waters of Bataan is still prohibited since they are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.
In its Red Tide Shellfish Bulletin No. 34 series of 2021, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said that the shellfish harvest ban is being imposed in the coastal waters of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay and Samal, all in Bataan.
The same ban is being imposed in the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Carigara Bay in Leyte; coastal waters of Guiuan, and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; coastal waters of Baroy in Lanao del Norte; Litalit Bay, San Benito in Surigao del Norte; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur as these areas are also positive for red tide toxin.
The BFAR also disclosed that the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate is now positive for the red tide toxin.
The BFAR warned that types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the said areas are not safe for human consumption.
However, fish, squids, shrimps and crabs gathered from the same areas 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 BFAR, on the other hand, reported that the coastal waters that continue to be free from red tide toxin are in Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas and Bulacan, all in Manila Bay.
