The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has raised yet another red tide warning in Eastern Visayas last week.
This time, the affected area is Irong-Irong Bay, which covers Catbalogan City, Samar province's capital.
In a statement, BFAR officials said seawater samples collected in the area tested positive for red tide toxins.
“Filtered seawater samples collected from Irong-Irong Bay remain positive for pyrodinium bahamense, a dinoflagellate that produces red tide toxin,” it noted.
The public is advised to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as "alamang" or "hipon," from the bay to prevent possible paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Fish, squid, shrimp, and crab from these waters are safe to eat as long as they are fresh and their internal organs, such as intestines and gills, are removed and thoroughly washed.
Other shellfish ban areas include waters around Biliran Island, Daram Island in Sama, and Matarinao Bay in General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani and Salcedo in Eastern Samar.
A shellfish ban is imposed in an area if both shellfish and seawater samples from the area tested positive for red tide based on examination by the BFAR main office laboratory.
BFAR said red tide cysts recur due to frequent rains that cause runoff of organic-rich sediments, which fertilize the cysts.
(With report from PNA)
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