THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the province declared yesterday that Negros Occidental seas are free from red tide, meaning seashells and other marine products are safe to eat.

Ruel Almoneda, head of the Red Tide Monitoring Team of BFAR- Negros Occidental, said water samples were taken from the waters of Bacolod City, Talisay City, E.B. Magalona, Pontevedra, and Hinigaran, which are considered hotspots, are cleared from red tide.

The areas are considered hotspots because they have a history of red tide in previous years.

The water samples in these areas were taken from March 12 to 15 and that they are conducting the water sample analysis twice a month to be precise in their monitoring.

Almoneda said that red tide usually occurs during a long drought.

Aside from these coastal areas, BFAR is also constantly monitoring other localities all over the province, Almuneda added.