Residents around three bays in Eastern Visayas are advised to avoid eating shellfish from these areas due to the continued prevalence of red tide toxin.
In an advisory issued on September 2, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said these areas include Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City; and Irong-irong Bay in Samar.
Shellfish and seawater samples gathered in these areas have tested positive for red tide.
A local red tide warning has been raised in Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City and Irong-irong Bay in Catbalogan City in Samar province.
The public is strictly advised not to collect, sell, or eat any type of shellfish, including small shrimp, from these areas, the BFAR advisory said.
Fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs are safe for human consumption if they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
Nationwide, there are only three bays included in the latest national shellfish bulletin. The other two are Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and the coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay.
BFAR said the presence of red tide cysts in the region’s bays triggered the recurrence of the phenomenon. Frequent rains may cause the runoff of soil sediments rich in organic matter that fertilize the red tide cyst.
(With report from PNA)
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