Surigao del Sur's Lianga Bay positive for toxic red tide — BFAR

Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur is now included on the list of coastal areas and bays that have tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide beyond the regulatory limit, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Based on BFAR's September 27 bulletin, the agency cautioned against harvesting, selling, buying, and eating shellfishes in the following areas:

• Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur;
• Coastal waters of Daram Island in Samar;
• Coastal waters of Zumarraga Island in Samar;
• Irong-Irong Bay in Samar;
• Cambatutay Bay in Samar;
• Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar;
• Carigara Bay in Leyte;
• Coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay Province;
• Maqueda Bay in Samar; and
• Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur

All types of shellfish and Acetes sp., also known as alamang, collected from the above-mentioned areas are not safe for human consumption, said BFAR.

Only fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs from these bodies of water are safe to be eaten provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

Symptoms of PSP include vomiting, headache, numbness, and tingling of lips and tongue minutes after eating poisonous shellfish.

GMA News Online has reached out to BFAR to know if there are any updates from the bulletin which was released on Monday morning, and will update this story once it responds. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News