PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, July 4 — Red tide caused by algal blooms is present along bay areas in this city, according to a bulletin sent Tuesday to the city government by a fisheries and aquatic resources official.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona said residents should temporarily avoid selling and consuming shellfish from the coastal areas of Puerto Princesa and Honda bays.
This after recent samples taken to their laboratory tested positive for red tide toxins that can be dangerous to human health.
He said they made the announcement to protect the public from possible harmful effects of the algal bloom.
The ban is up for hard- and soft-shelled clams, oysters, and mussels that are susceptible to red tide contamination as they feed by sifting microscopic food out of the water.
On the other hand, fresh fish from both bays are safe to eat as long as they are carefully cleaned with internal organs removed, prepared, and cooked well.
This is the second time the fisheries and aquatic resources bureau raised the alarm on red tide in Puerto Princesa this year. The first issuance of shellfish ban was done in February.
The most dangerous effect to human health of shellfish with high levels of red toxins is neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP).
According to health experts, NSP is caused by consuming shellfish contaminated with brevetoxins which are produced by the dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis.
Among its gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, numbing or tingling of the lips and face, disorientation, and partial paralysis among others. (PNA)