Tacloban: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned against consuming shellfish taken from Cancabato Bay here after filtered water samples turned positive for red tide toxins.
According to Philippines News Agency, in an advisory issued Monday, BFAR reported that paralytic shellfish toxin was found during laboratory examination by the BFAR regional office. As a precaution, the public is advised to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as Alamang or Hipon, from this bay.
Markets in Taiwan and Hong Kong regularly receive cockle clams from Cancabato Bay, highlighting the importance of this advisory. Through testing, BFAR found that shellfish samples from the bay exceeded the maximum regulatory limit of 60 micrograms of toxins for every 100 grams of shellfish meat. Beyond this threshold, the government strictly prohibits shellfish harvesting in affected areas.
The fisheries bureau had previously raised a local red tide warning in Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar, as collected seawater samples also indicated the presence of red tide toxins. Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar is currently the sole area in the region included in the national shellfish bulletin after meat samples collected tested positive for red tide toxins, based on a confirmation test by the BFAR central office.
The presence of red tide in the region has been attributed to changing weather patterns, according to BFAR. While fish, squid, crab, and shrimp gathered from affected bays remain safe to eat, it is advised to remove all entrails and wash marine products thoroughly with running water before cooking.
Although the shellfish ban has been lifted in many areas in the region, monitoring will continue to check for possible recurrence. Regular water sample checks are conducted in the coastal waters of Daram and Zumarraga, Cambatutay, Maqueda, and Villareal Bays in Samar; coastal waters of Guiuan in Eastern Samar; San Pedro Bay in Samar; coastal waters of Leyte, Calubian, Ormoc, Sogod, and Carigara Bay in Leyte; and coastal waters of Biliran Island, all of which have a history of red tide recurrence.
BFAR has been consistently analyzing water samples through its regional laboratory to ensure that shellfish gathered from these areas are safe for human consumption. If seawater tests positive for red tide, they gather and send the meat to their national laboratory for thorough analysis.
"Red tide" describes a phenomenon where water is discolored by a high concentration of algae, posing risks to marine life and human health.