BFAR: 21 areas positive for shellfish poison

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Tuesday announced that shellfish collected from 21 areas were found positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond regulatory limit.

In its shellfish bulletin, BFAR said that all types of shellfish and acetes, or alamang, gathered from the following areas are not safe for human consumption:

•     Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon
•     Coastal waters of Biliran Islands
•     Coastal waters of Daram Island in Western Samar
•     Coastal water of Zumarraga in Western Samar
•     Cambatutay Bay in Western Samar
•     Irong-irong Bay in Western Samar
•     Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Western Samar
•     Coastal waters of Guiuan in Eastern Samar
•     Llanga Bay in Surigao del Sur
•     Balite Bay in Davao Oriental
•     Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte
•     Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur
•     Tambobo Bay, Siaton in Negros Oriental
•     Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol
•     Honda and Puerto Princesa Bays, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan
•     Carigara Bay in Leyte
•     Coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte
•     Coastal watera of Calubian in Leyte
•     Coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate
•     Coastal waters of Bataan

BFAR said that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for consumption as long as they are fresh and washed thoroughly and their internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.

The bulletin also contains the list of areas free from toxic red tide.

“Moreover, coastal waters of Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay in Palawan; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; and San Pedro Bay in Western Samar are now free of the toxic red tides,” BFAR said.—AOL, GMA News