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Saturday, November 18, 2006
Red tide alert up in Mati and Bislig
By Joy Romares-Sevilla
DAVAO CITY -- Red tide toxins have been confirmed to be present in the coastal waters of eight areas in the country including Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental and Bislig Bay in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, the national office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) announced.
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Following the announcement, fisheries officials implemented a shellfish ban in the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; Silaton in Negros Oriental; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental; Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon City; Irong-Irong Bay in Samar; and Bislig Bay in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.
Determined free from red tide toxins are the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan, and Bataan in Manila Bay.
Also free from the toxins are the coastal waters of Bolinao, Anda and Bani in Pangasinan; Masinloc and Palauig in Zambales; Mandaon, Masbate; Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City; Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Palawan; Bacolod City, Victorias City, Silay City, Valladolid, San Enrique, E.B. Magalona, Pontevedra, Cadiz Ciy, Talisay City and Hinigaran in Negros Occidental.
Others include Biliran waters in Biliran Province, Kabasalan waters, Sibuguey Bay in Sibugay Province, Zamboanga; Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City; Carigara and Ormoc Bays in Leyte; Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar; Taguines Lagoon in Camiguin Island; Lianga and Hinatuan Bays, and Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.
Bfar Regional Director George Campeon said they conduct monitoring and laboratory analyses of shellfish every week to ensure the public's protection.
Campeon said fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs in red tide-affected waters are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly and their internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
Just like shellfishes, "alamang," the small shrimps usually made into salted shrimp paste or simmered in coconut milk, are not safe for human consumption when gathered in a red tide toxin-affected area.
Red tide is an algal bloom in mouths of rivers or seashores caused by a species of dinoflagellates that cause the tide to appear reddish because of their unusual bloom or increase in numbers.
Coastal water pollution produced by humans and systematic increase in seawater temperature appears to be causal factors in red tides. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (November 18, 2006 issue)
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