BFAR intensifies monitoring of possible red tide in NegOr bays

DUMAGUETE CITY - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is intensifying its monitoring of Negros Oriental coastal areas, specifically bays, for a potential red tide occurrence, an official said Monday. The BFAR already issued a red tide warning over the weekend advising the public not to eat shellfish sourced from Bais Bay after samples collected last month reflected high levels of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP). Florencia Mepaña, BFAR-Negros Oriental chief, told the Philippine News Agency that a team from its regional office and their local counterparts are taking samples of shellfish from Tambobo Bay and Siit Bay in Siaton town. On Tuesday, the team will go to Bais City to collect shellfish samples from Bais Bay. Mepaña said the samples will be subjected to laboratory testing to determine the presence and level of toxins that could be harmful to humans. 'We have already informed the Bais City local government unit (LGU) to alert its constituents against possible red tide occurrence and to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating shellfish from the entire Bais Bay,' Mepaña said. She said business owners from as far as Guihulngan City have been calling their office to seek guidance on the ban on shellfish from Bais Bay. She cautioned them against receiving and selling shellfish from Bais City amid the potential red tide threat. The BFAR official said delivery and sales of shellfish and other seafood from one LGU to another requires an auxiliary invoice from the source. If the shipment is outside of the province, a permit to transport must be obtained from the BFAR, she added. Bantay Dagat (sea watch) volunteers in Bais City have already been tapped to monitor and ensure that no shellfish are taken out of Bais Bay, Mepaña said. So far, the BFAR has not received reports of people coming down with shellfish poisoning. The last red tide occurrence in Bais Bay was in 2015 while a similar event was reported in Tambobo Bay sometime in 2017. Source: Philippines News agency