TOXIC AGAIN. A portion of Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar. Red tide phenomenon has recurred in three bays in Samar and Eastern Samar provinces, raising warnings not to consume shellfish in these areas, the Bureau of Fisheries Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Friday (Oct. 6, 2023). (Photo courtesy of BFAR)
TACLOBAN CITY – Red tide phenomenon has recurred in three bays in Samar and Eastern Samar provinces, raising warning not to consume shellfish products in these areas, the Bureau of Fisheries Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Friday.
These bays are Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar, coastal waters of Calbayog City, Samar; and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar province.
The bloom of this toxic organism returned in Matarinao after three weeks of red tide absence and in Irong-Irong Bay after nine months. The coastal water of Calbayog City was included in the red tide watch in early 2022.
Matarinao covers the coastal waters of General MacArthur, Hernani, Quinapondan and Salcedo in Eastern Samar province.
BFAR attributed the change in weather patterns as the cause of the red tide blooms in the region.
“To safeguard human lives, we are issuing this warning as a 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 said in its local shellfish bulletin.
Water and shellfish meat samples will be sent to their main office for confirmatory testing.
Fish, squid, crab, and shrimp gathered from these areas are safe to eat provided that all entrails are removed and the marine products are washed thoroughly with running water before cooking.
Although the shellfish ban has been lifted in some areas in the region, the monitoring will continue to check the possible recurrence.
The regular water sample checks cover the coastal waters of Daram, Zumarraga, Cambatutay, Maqueda, and Villareal Bays in Samar; coastal waters of Guiuan; San Pedro Bay in Samar; coastal waters of Leyte, Calubian, Ormoc, Sogod, Carigara Bay, and Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; and coastal waters of Biliran Island.
These areas had a history of red tide recurrence in the past years.
BFAR regularly analyzes water samples through its regional laboratory to ensure that shellfish gathered from these areas are safe for human consumption.
If seawater turns positive for red tide, they gather and send meat to their national laboratory for thorough analysis.
Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon where the water gets discolored by high algal biomass or the concentration of algae.
Meanwhile, BFAR reported that the following Luzon areas continue to be free from paralytic shellfish poisoning: Coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay and Samal) in Manila Bay; mariculture areas in Infanta, coastal waters of Bolinao, Anda, Alaminos, Sual and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan; mariculture areas in Rosario, and Sto. Tomas in La Union; coastal waters of Pampanga; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; Pagbilao Bay, Pagbilao, and coastal waters of Walay, Padre Burgos in Quezon; Honda, and Puerto Princesa Bays, Puerto Princesa City and coastal waters of Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay in Palawan.
In Visayas, the coastal waters of Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate; coastal waters of Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon, Matnog in Sorsogon; coastal waters of Borongon, San Dionisio in Iloilo; Altavas, Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan; E.B. Magalona, Talisay City, coastal waters of Silay City, Bacolod City, Hinigaran and Victorias City in Negros Occidental; Tambobo and Si-it Bays, Siaton and Bais Bay, Bais City in Negros Oriental; coastal waters of Daram, Zumarraga, Cambatutay, Maqueda, San Pedro and Villareal Bays in Samar; coastal waters of Guian in Eastern Samar; coastal waters of Lete, Calubian, Ormoc, Sogod, Carigara Bay, and Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; and coastal waters of Biliran Island; Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay are also without red tide.
Likewise red-tide free are the following coastal waters in Mindanao: Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte, and Sapang Dalaga and Baliangao in Misamis Occidental; Panguil Bay, Tangub City, and coastal waters of Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental; coastal waters of Baroy in Lanao del Norte; Taguines Lagoon, Benoni, Mahinog in Camiguin; Balite and Pujada Bays, Mati City in Davao Oriental; Malalag Bay in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur; coastal waters of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte; Litalit Bay in Surigao del Norte; and coastal waters of Hinatuan, Cortes, Lianga, and Bislig Bays in Surigao del Sur. (With a report from Ferdinand G. Patinio/PNA)
