TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-8 announced that there is no shellfish ban in Eastern Visayas based on the latest red tide advisory on Monday, November 13.
However, based on local red tide advisories, seawater samples collected from the coastal waters of Guiuan in Eastern Samar, Cambatutay Bay in Samar (Tarangnan, Samar), Irong-Irong Bay (Catbalogan City, Samar), and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar (General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo) are positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, a toxic microorganism that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).
Guiuan was added to the list from the previous red ride advisory, while Maqueda Bay and San Pedro Bay, both in Samar, were removed from the list.
BFAR advised the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as "alamang” or “hipon,” from these areas.
It said that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption, provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.