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| Until the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources declares Capiz waters free of red tide toxins, the executive order that bans harvesting, transporting, selling and eating shellfishes stands. pressandjournal.co.uk |
Office of the Provincial Agriculturist head Sylvia de la Cruz said the Executive Order issued earlier by Capiz governor Victor A. Tanco is still in force after the coastal waters and shellfish meat sample gathered from in Sapian Bay tested positive of red tide toxin.
Based on the Sept. 14 sampling results, red tide organisms are still present in water in five out of nine sampling stations in Sapian Bay, which covers Ivisan and Sapian towns, said de la Cruz.
Aside from the water, the toxicity of shellfish samples reached 66-67 microgram per 100 grams shellfish meat, which is beyond the regulatory limit set by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, she added.
In the Sept. 15 sampling in Panay water, the presence of red tide organisms in the six sampling stations in the area was noted at 5 to 50 cells per liter. However, the shellfish samples remain negative of the toxin.
De la Cruz said they are closely monitoring the coastal waters here until such time that the density of red tide organism goes down to zero in all sampling stations.
So far, Sapian and Ivisan towns are under the state of calamity following the contamination of the red tide toxin. (PIA Capiz/PN)
