TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources here disclosed on Tuesday that at least four bays in Samar province remain positive for red tide toxins, citing the latest laboratory testing results.
The BFAR-8 identified the red tide-infested areas as the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; and Matarinao Bay in General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar.
Records show that some of these bays have been positive for toxic organisms since early October.
"There is no shellfish ban in the region per the latest shellfish bulletin. However, these areas are under local red tide advisories. Seawater samples collected from these bays and coastal waters are positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, a toxic microorganism that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning," the BFAR-8 statement said.
It also asked the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang or hipon from these bays despite not being covered by the existing shellfish bulletin.
"Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption, provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and their internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking," it added.
Local laboratories on Tuesday released the results of tested water and meat samples from these four bays taken on 13 November.
They also submitted samples collected from these bays to their main office for confirmatory testing and inclusion in future national shellfish bulletins.