RED TIDE. Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar is one of the bays in the region hit anew by red tide bloom based on the latest alert bulletin issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Thursday (Nov. 12, 2020). A shellfish ban is still up in 13 bays in Eastern Visayas as red tide toxins continue to plague coastal waters for several months now. (Photo courtesy of BFAR)
TACLOBAN CITY – For several months now, red tide infestation continues in 13 bays in Eastern Visayas due to “interplay of unusual weather pattern” in the second half of the year, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported on Thursday.
In an advisory, it confirmed that red tide toxins in both shellfish and water remain in the 13 bays in the region since middle of this year.
BFAR Assistant Director for Operations Juan Albaladejo said that what has been happening in the Pacific Ocean has a direct impact on unpredictable weather conditions in Eastern Visayas.
“This started in the third quarter of the year where a mild El Niño causes a long dry out season with occasional heavy rainfall event triggers the upwelling of inner shallow bays bringing up the sediments laden with red tide microorganism cysts and then use the organic load that comes with the sediments to start the bloom,” Albaladejo said in a phone interview on Thursday.
“This occurred as series of events in different inner bodies of water and further intensified by the ever-changing current patterns in these areas, hence, spreading the red tide blooms. These unusual but natural episodes continued until rainy season,” he added.
BFAR identified red tide contamination in the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Villareal Bay in Samar; Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; coastal waters of Zumarraga, Samar; and coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte; Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City; Matarinao Bay stretching across the towns of General MacArthur, Hernani, Quinapondan, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar.
Also hit by red tide are coastal waters of Biliran in Biliran province; Carigara Bay -- Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Carigara, and Capoocan in Leyte; Irong-irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; San Pedro Bay in Basey, Samar; Maqueda Bay in the towns of Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, and Hinabangan in Samar; and the coastal waters of Daram, Samar.
BFAR said it issued the warning as precautionary advice to the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish.
The fisheries bureau also banned the trading and consumption of Acetes sp. locally known as "alamang" harvested from said bays to avoid possible shellfish poisoning.
Local government units are advised to regulate the gathering, marketing, and transport of shellfish from the infested areas.
"Fish, squid, shrimp, and crab are safe to eat provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking", the advisory added.
At least two children died and four of their family members were hospitalized last September after eating red tide infected green mussels in Bagacay village, Daram, Samar.
Killed by paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) were an eight-year-old boy and his three-year-old brother while four other family members were admitted at a hospital in Catbalogan City, Samar.
Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon where the water is discolored by high algal biomass or the concentration of algae. PSP occurs from ingesting bivalve shellfish (such as mussels, oysters, and clams) that contain toxins. (PNA)
In an advisory, it confirmed that red tide toxins in both shellfish and water remain in the 13 bays in the region since middle of this year.
BFAR Assistant Director for Operations Juan Albaladejo said that what has been happening in the Pacific Ocean has a direct impact on unpredictable weather conditions in Eastern Visayas.
“This started in the third quarter of the year where a mild El Niño causes a long dry out season with occasional heavy rainfall event triggers the upwelling of inner shallow bays bringing up the sediments laden with red tide microorganism cysts and then use the organic load that comes with the sediments to start the bloom,” Albaladejo said in a phone interview on Thursday.
“This occurred as series of events in different inner bodies of water and further intensified by the ever-changing current patterns in these areas, hence, spreading the red tide blooms. These unusual but natural episodes continued until rainy season,” he added.
BFAR identified red tide contamination in the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Villareal Bay in Samar; Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; coastal waters of Zumarraga, Samar; and coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte; Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City; Matarinao Bay stretching across the towns of General MacArthur, Hernani, Quinapondan, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar.
Also hit by red tide are coastal waters of Biliran in Biliran province; Carigara Bay -- Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Carigara, and Capoocan in Leyte; Irong-irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; San Pedro Bay in Basey, Samar; Maqueda Bay in the towns of Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, and Hinabangan in Samar; and the coastal waters of Daram, Samar.
BFAR said it issued the warning as precautionary advice to the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish.
The fisheries bureau also banned the trading and consumption of Acetes sp. locally known as "alamang" harvested from said bays to avoid possible shellfish poisoning.
Local government units are advised to regulate the gathering, marketing, and transport of shellfish from the infested areas.
"Fish, squid, shrimp, and crab are safe to eat provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking", the advisory added.
At least two children died and four of their family members were hospitalized last September after eating red tide infected green mussels in Bagacay village, Daram, Samar.
Killed by paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) were an eight-year-old boy and his three-year-old brother while four other family members were admitted at a hospital in Catbalogan City, Samar.
Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon where the water is discolored by high algal biomass or the concentration of algae. PSP occurs from ingesting bivalve shellfish (such as mussels, oysters, and clams) that contain toxins. (PNA)
