The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on Friday raised the red tide alert over the coastal waters of Daram Island in Western Samar.
In its recent shellfish bulletin, BFAR said that based on the latest laboratory results, the coastal waters of Irong-Irong Bay, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Western Samar, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, Carigara Bay in Leyte, and Balite Bay, Mati in Davao Oriental showed positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.
BFAR officer-in-charge Wilfredo M. Cruz said Tamboboy Bay, Siaton in Negros Oriental, Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay and Puerto Princesa Bay, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, the coastal waters of Gigantes Islands, Carles in Iloilo, and coastal waters of Mandaon and Placer in Masbate also tested positive for red tide.
Cruz said all types of shellfish and “alamang” gathered from these coastal areas are still not safe for human consumption.
“Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” Cruz said.
Areas which continue to be free from toxic red tide include the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan, Bataan, Bolinao, Anda, Alaminos, Sual, Wawa and Bani in Pangasinan, Masinloc Bay in Zambales, Mandaon in Masbate, Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, and Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Other areas include coastal waters of Pilar, Panay, President Roxas, Roxas City in Capiz and Sapian Bay, Alvatas, Batan, and New Washington in Aklan.
Cruz said the coastal areas of Capiz, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Cambatutay Bay in Western Samar, Calbayog City in Samar, Leyte, Biliran Province, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Camiguin Island.
