Photo Credit: Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Central Office
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has issued an alert warning against harvesting, selling, and consuming shellfish from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur.
In a statement issued on April 20, BFAR said that their surveillance detected the presence of toxic Red Tide or paralytic shellfish poisoning in the said bays. BFAR also detected the red tide in the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol and San Pedro Bay in Samar.
Red tide is an algal bloom that releases neurotoxins that are lethal to almost anything nearby. Red tides happen when particular kinds of freshwater and marine algae species grow out of control and start generating neurotoxins that are bad for both humans and marine life.
These neurotoxins can tint water red, are deadly to fish, render shellfish inedible, and make the air difficult to breathe.
People can also get sick from the neurotoxins in the water or from ingesting toxic shellfish. In addition, wind can carry aerosol toxins from red tides onto the shore, creating respiratory issues among people with asthma or allergies.
“All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or “alamang” gathered from the areas shown above are not safe for human consumption,” BFAR said in its advisory.
“However, fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe to be eaten as long as these are fresh, washed thoroughly, and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed prior to cooking,” BFAR said.
