DAVAO CITY - The local government of Hinatuan warned its residents on Tuesday, February 23 of the presence of red tide toxin in the coastal waters of the municipality.
In an advisory posted on their Facebook page, the local government of Hinatuan said all types of shellfish and alamang collected from Hinatuan coastal waters, including Lianga Bay "are not safe for human consumption."
The local government also shared the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' (BFAR) Shellfish Bulletin Advisory No. 04 Series of 2021 dated February 15, 2021.
The BFAR said based on the latest laboratory results "shellfishes collected at Coastal waters of Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay in Palawan; Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Tambobo Bay, Siaton in Negros Oriental; Coastal waters of Daram Island, Zumarraga, San Pedro and Cambatutay Bays in Western Samar; Coastal waters of Calubian, Leyte, Carigara Bay, and Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; Coastal waters of Biliran Islands; Coastal waters of Guiuan and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Balite Bay, Mati City in Davao Oriental; and Lianga Bay and Coastal waters of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit."
"Moreover, Ormoc Bay in Leyte is now positive for red tide toxin," it added.
The BFAR said "all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from these areas are NOT SAFE for human consumption."
However, it added that "fish, squids, shrimps, 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."