Red tide alert up in several coastal areas – BFAR

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced a red tide alert on Tuesday in some coastal areas where shellfish are positive for paralytic shellfish poison beyond the regulatory limit.

In an advisory, the BFAR said that all types of shellfish and acetes or alamang (tiny shrimps) gathered from the following areas are not safe for human consumption:

• Biliran Islands
• Bohol (Dauis and Tagbilaran City)
• Davao Oriental (Balite Bay and Mati City)
• Eastern Samar (Guiuan and Matarimao Bay)
• Leyte (Calubian, Cancabato, Carigara Bay and Tacloban City)
• Masbate (Milagros)
• Negros Oriental (Sianton and Tambobo Bay)
• Palawan (Honda, Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay, and Puerto Princesa Bays)
• Sorsogon (Sorsogon Bay)
• Surigao del Sur (Lianga Bay and Hinatuan)
• Western Samar (Daram Island, Cambatutay Bay, and Zumarraga)
• Zamboanga del Sur (Dumanquillas Bay)

 “Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” BFAR added.