By David Vera
The red tide phenomenon remains a significant concern in 10 bays across Eastern Visayas, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which released its findings on Thursday based on shellfish and seawater examinations.
Seven of these areas are listed in the national shellfish bulletin due to toxic red tide levels exceeding regulatory limits. These include Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar (covering General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo), Ormoc Bay in Leyte (including Ormoc City, Albuera, and Merida), Biliran Island waters in Biliran province, Leyte town waters in Leyte province, Daram Island and Zumarraga Island in Samar, and Irongirong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar.
The BFAR has strictly advised the public not to harvest, sell, or consume shellfish or small shrimp (“alamang”) from these affected areas.
Fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs harvested from these bays are considered safe for consumption if they are fresh, thoroughly cleaned, and prepared by removing internal organs such as gills and intestines before cooking.
Three other areas were found to have seawater contaminated with Pyrodinium bahamense, a dinoflagellate responsible for producing red tide toxins. These areas, identified in the latest local shellfish bulletin, include Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, the coastal waters of Guiuan in Eastern Samar, and the coastal waters of Calbayog City in Samar.
“To safeguard human lives, we are issuing this warning as precautionary advice to 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,” BFAR stated in its advisory.