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| A fisherman is about to go home after getting all his fishing stuffs in Panay river. (CPPB Photo) |
ROXAS City — Coastal waters in Capiz and Negros Occidental continue to be free from red tide, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
BFAR has recently issued a bulletin pointing out coastal areas in the country positive and negative for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP).
Red tide is the discoloration of seawater due to the large presence of dinoflagellates, microorganisms that produce toxins harmful to many marine species, including shellfish.
Coastal waters in this capital city and Ivisan, Panay, Pilar, President Roxas, and Sapian towns in Capiz remain negative for red tide.
Also red tide-free were coastal waters in Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, Silay, Talisay, and Victorias cities, and Binalbagan, EB Magalona, Hinigaran, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique, and Valladolid towns in Negros Occidental.
Shellfish collected from Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan, Samar, and Bataan coastal waters (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay, and Samal) were positive for PSP, the BFAR bulletin showed. They were thus unsafe for human consumption.
BFAR advised the public to refrain from harvesting, eating, selling, and buying shellfish and alamang (small shrimps) from these areas, and wait for the time when the toxicity level goes below the regulatory limit.
Fish, squid, big shrimps, and crabs, however, are safe for human consumption as long as they are bought fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
Also free from red tides were coastal areas in Villareal Bay (Villareal, Samar) and Maqueda Bay (Jiabong, Samar), Cancabato Bay (Tacloban City, Leyte), San Pedro Bay (Palo and Tanauan, Leyte), Carigara Bay (Carigara, San Miguel, Barugo, Capoocan, and Babatngon, Leyte), Ormoc Bay (Ormoc City, Albuera and Merida, Leyte), Sogod Bay (Sogod, Southern Leyte), Cambatutay Bay (Tarangnan, Samar), and Matarinao Bay (Salcedo, Quinapondan, Hernani, Gen. MacArthur, eastern Samar).
BFAR and the local government unit continue to monitor Maqueda and Villareal Bays in western Samar since these areas tested negative for PSP only recently.
Other red tide-free coastal areas were those in Las Piñas, Cavite, Paranaque, Navotas, and Bulacan in Manila Bay; Bolinao and Anda, Sual, Alaminos and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate, Juag Lagoon iun Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; Honda and Puerto bays in Puerto Princesa City and Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Palawan;
Calbayog City in western Samar; Biliran waters in Biliran province; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; Hinatuan, Bislig and Lianga bays in Surigao del Sur; Balite Bay, Mati, Davao Oriental; and Taguines Lagoon in Benoni Mahinog, Camiguin Island. (With reports from Philippines News Agency/PN)
