Pangasinan coastal waters cleared of toxic red tide

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — Shellfish and alamang gathered from the coastal waters of Anda and Bolinao are now safe for human consumption after testing negative for red tide toxin, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced recently.

In an advisory issued Thursday night, BFAR-1 confirmed that recent lab results on shellfish meat samples from both towns showed the areas are now free of the toxic algae.

“All types of shellfish and Acetes sp., or alamang, gathered from the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda in Pangasinan are now free from toxic red tide,” the bureau said. “Likewise, shellfish harvesting and marketing from these areas are permitted.”

The lifting of the ban ends a month-long restriction that began on 15 January, when samples from the two municipalities first tested positive for the toxin.

During the alert, officials warned the public against gathering, selling, or eating local shellfish to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning, a potentially fatal illness caused by consuming contaminated seafood.

While the ban in Anda and Bolinao has been lifted, BFAR continues to monitor coastal waters across the region to ensure public safety.