RED TIDE. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 13 (Caraga) on Friday (Aug. 13, 2021) issued a Red Tide Advisory affecting Litalit Bay in San Benito, Surigao del Norte. It warned residents against gathering, marketing, and consuming all types of shellfish in the area. (Photo courtesy of BFAR-13)
BUTUAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 13 (Caraga) issued a local red tide warning indicating the presence of paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) at the Litalit Bay in the town of San Benito in Surigao del Norte.
“Based on the laboratory examination conducted by BFAR National Fisheries Laboratory Division, using screening test Enzyme Linked-Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), shellfish meat samples collected from Litalit Bay in San Benito, Surigao del Norte is positive with PSP,” the BFAR-13 said in an advisory signed by OIC-Director Nilo Katada and issued on Friday afternoon.
San Benito is among the towns in Surigao del Norte situated in Siargao Island.
To protect lives and the shellfish industry in the area, the bureau warned residents to refrain from gathering, marketing, trading, and consuming all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang or hipon, from Litalit Bay to avoid possible poisoning.
It also pointed out that fish, crab, and squid gathered from the area can still be eaten provided that all entrails are removed and they are washed thoroughly before cooking.
The bureau said it is also waiting for the result of the confirmatory test using the Receptor Binding Assay (RBA).
The BFAR-13 has coordinated with the local government unit (LGU) of San Benito to inform the residents of the latest findings on the presence of PSP in the bay.
“The BFAR and LGU will continuously monitor the area to safeguard public health and protect the shellfish industry,” the advisory read.
Last week, the BFAR also issued an advisory on the continued presence of red tide in Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur. (PNA)
