THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) lifted on Wednesday the shellfish ban in three bays of Samar provinces, but red tide toxins remain in Eastern Samar’s Matarinao Bay.
According to shellfish bulletin number 10, which was issued by BFAR National Director Asis Perez, shellfish collected in Cambatutay Bay in Irong-Irong Bay and coastal waters of Calbayog City are now safe for consumption.
“Based on the results of red tide monitoring activities of BFAR and local government units, shellfishes collected from these three bays are now negative for red tide toxins,” the bulletin said.
The BFAR also said that water and shellfish meat samples were found negative from paralytic shellfish poison for three consecutive days before drawing a conclusion; however, authorities will continue monitoring these bays to ensure public safety.
On July 1, waters of Cambatutay Bay off Tarangnan, Samar were found positive of red tide that killed two people and hospitalized 22 others.
After few days, harmful algae bloom spread to Irong-Irong Bay off Catbalogan City and waters of Calbayog City.
Matarinao Bay is still positive of red tide toxins based on a monitoring this week, the bureau added.
“All types of shellfish and Acetes SP or alamang from said areas are not fit for human consumption. Thus, the public is advised to refrain from eating, harvesting, marketing, and buying these products from Matarinao Bay until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has gone down below the regulatory level,” the bulletin said.
Red tide phenomenon has been recurring in the coastal waters of Salcedo, Quinapondan, Gen. Macarthur and Hernani in Eastern Samar in the past three years. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)