The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has warned the public not to consume shellfish harvested from some Visayas and Mindanao coastal waters after they tested positive for the toxic red tide.

According to BFAR’s Shellfish Bulletin 1 series of 2024, shellfish from Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, and San Benito in Surigao del Norte are positive for paralytic shellfish poison, or red tide.

All types of Acetes sp. or “alamang” in the said areas are also not safe for human consumption, the bureau added.

BFAR urged the public not to harvest, sell, buy, or eat the aquaculture products harvested in the mentioned areas.

Fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs in these areas, on the other hand, are safe to eat provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs, including gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.

Meanwhile, the BFAR confirmed that the coastal waters of Pontevedra in Capiz are now cleared from toxic red tide after being tested positive in August last year.