Matarinao Bay tests positive for red tide

Fishermen and residents along Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar are advised against eating shellfish from the area after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed the presence of red tide in its waters.

In an advisory on Tuesday, July 15, the BFAR regional office here warned the public against gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as "alamang or hipon," from Matarinao Bay to avoid possible paralytic shellfish poisoning.

The bay covers the coastal waters in the towns of General MacArthur, Hernani, Quinapondan, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar province.
"To safeguard human lives while waiting for the issuance of a national shellfish bulletin and advisory, this advisory is issued as a precautionary measure to the public," BFAR said.

The BFAR-National Fisheries Laboratory Division released the confirmatory result on the shellfish meat sample a month after the seawater samples gathered from Matarinao Bay turned positive for toxic red tide based on testing by the regional office.

Fish, squid, shrimp, and crab from these waters are safe to consume as long as they are fresh and their internal organs, such as intestines and gills, are removed and thoroughly washed.

Aside from Matarinao Bay, a local red tide warning is also raised in Irong-Irong Bay in Samar as collected seawater samples there indicate the presence of red tide toxins.

Although there is no shellfish ban in many areas in the region, BFAR continues its monitoring to check for possible recurrence.

Included in regular water sample checks are the coastal waters of Daram and Zumarraga, Cambatutay, Maqueda, and Villareal Bays in Samar; coastal waters of Guiuan in Eastern Samar; San Pedro Bay in Samar; coastal waters of Leyte, Calubian, Ormoc, Sogod, Carigara Bay, and Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; and coastal waters of Biliran Island.

(With report from PNA)

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