Red tide invades Zamboanga Peninsula bays

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Fisheries officials issued an emergency advisory warning to residents across the Zamboanga Peninsula to avoid consuming shellfish following the detection of high levels of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP).

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) stated that laboratory tests conducted in Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay exceeded the regulatory limit of 60 micrograms of toxins per 100 grams of shellfish meat.

BFAR director general Dr. Maria Lourdes F. Cruz said the ban includes all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang, harvested from the contaminated areas. The toxicity is caused by blooms of dinoflagellates such as Alexandrium spp. and Pyrodinium bahamense.

“Region 9’s bays are hotspots for seasonal red tides, driven by nutrient runoff and climate shifts,” Cruz said. “Ignoring this could lead to hospitalizations or worse.”

While shellfish are strictly prohibited, BFAR noted that fish, squids, shrimps and crabs remain safe for human consumption provided they are fresh, thoroughly cleaned, and have their gills and intestines removed before cooking.

PSP is a severe neurological condition triggered by saxitoxins. Symptoms usually appear within 30 minutes to two hours of ingestion, beginning with tingling around the mouth and numbness in the limbs.

In severe cases, the toxin causes respiratory paralysis, which can be fatal within 12 hours. There is no known antidote; treatment is limited to supportive care such as respiratory ventilation.

Local fisheries offices in Pagadian and Ipil have begun patrols to enforce the ban and are distributing food assistance to small-scale fishers whose livelihoods have been halted by the red tide.

As of Monday, no illnesses related to the current alert have been reported. BFAR continues to monitor the water quality weekly via its RedTidePH platform and will maintain the ban until toxin levels subside.