ILOILO CITY – Red tide recurred in the waters of popular tourist destination Gigantes Islands in Carles town, Iloilo province, less than two months after the area was cleared of the toxin.
In a shellfish bulletin, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) noted that paralytic poison in the area is beyond regulatory limits.
BFAR-6 (Western Visayas) Director Remia Aparri warned against the harvesting, trading, and eating of shellfish from Gigantes Island where scallops are found.
“All types of shellfish and acetes gathered from the coastal waters of Gigantes Island are not safe for human consumption,” Aparri said.
“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,” the BFAR-6 advisory added.
Other areas in the region have also tested positive for red tide. Among these are the coastal waters of Panay, Pilar, President Roxas, Roxas City, and Sapian Bay in Capiz province, dubbed as the country’s “Seafood Capital.”