Red tide alert still up in 6 East Visayas bays

FILE: Based on samples collected by the fisheries bureau, red tide toxins are still present in both seawater and shellfish meat – above the regulatory limit – said BFAR assistant regional director Justerie Granali on Tuesday. (Photo: subherwal / Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

TACLOBAN CITY— Six bays in Eastern Visayas are still positive of red tide toxins, prompting the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to raise a stern warning against shellfish consumption.

These red tide-infested areas are Irong-irong Bay, Maqueda Bay, Villareal Bay, and Daram waters in Samar province; Carigara Bay in Leyte; and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar.

Based on samples collected by the fisheries bureau, red tide toxins are still present in both seawater and shellfish meat – above the regulatory limit – said BFAR assistant regional director Justerie Granali on Tuesday.

BFAR reiterated its warning against shellfish consumption after a boy died last month in Catbalogan City and 45 others fell ill in Samar after eating green mussel.

“Red tide remains because of the abnormal weather phenomenon of prolong heat and sudden rain. We have personnel going around to make people aware that red tide can kill,” Granali added.

The fisheries had set up checkpoints in San Juanico Bridge to prevent entry of shellfish gathered in affected bays.

Local government units are advised to regulate gathering, marketing and transporting of shellfish in infested areas.

Fish, squid, shrimp and crab are safe to eat “provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” BFAR said.

Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon where the water is discolored by high algal biomass or the concentration of algae.

The discoloration may not necessarily be red in color, but it may also appear yellow, brown, green, blue or milky, depending on the organisms involved. (With reports from Christine Quimbo, OJT/PNA)