Red tide alert up in 2 Samar bays

TACLOBAN CITY, June 6 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned that all types of shellfish taken from Cambatutay Bay and Irong Irong Bay in Samar province are positive of red tide contamination.

According to latest local red tide advisory, red tide toxins found in the seawaters of two bays are beyond the regulatory limit.

“All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption,” said BFAR regional director Juan D. Albaladejo.

“Thus, the public is advised to refrain from eating, harvesting, marketing, and buying shellfishes and Acetes especially from Irong-irong Bay and Cambatutay Bay until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has gone down below the regulatory level," he added.

The prolonged sunny weather since early this year, followed by sudden heavy rainfall in the past few weeks triggered the red tide bloom due to discharge of waste water from mountains and residential areas, according to BFAR.

Albaladejo has expressed concern that that red tide toxins may spread to nearby Cambatutay Bay, Maqueda Bay, and Calbayog City waters. These areas have histories of red tide contaminations.

Irong-Irong Bay, one of the collecting areas for mussel in Samar, drains its water to nearby Cambatutay Bay, which is close Calbayog City waters.

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,” according to BFAR. (PNA)

BNB/SARWELL Q. MENIANO