The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources warned the public to refrain from consuming shellfishes collected from some coastal areas because of red tide.
BFAR identified the coastal areas infected with red tide as Daram Island, Irong-Irong Bay, Maqueda Bay, Villareal Bay and Cambatutay Bay in Western Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Carigara Bay in Leyte; Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay in Palawan; Mandaon in Masbate; and Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay and Samal in Bataan.
Agriculture Undersecretary Edaurdo Gongona said based on the recent laboratory results, all shellfishes and shrimp fry from these areas were still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit and, thus, are not safe for human consumption.
Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for eating provided they are still fresh and washed thoroughly, and their internal organs removed before cooking.
Meanwhile, many areas are still safe from red tide. These areas include Cavite, Las Piñns, Parañaque, Navotas and Bulacan in Manila Bay; Bolinao, Anda, Alaminos, Sual and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; Milagros and Placer in Masbate; Juag Lagoon, Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; Honda and Puerto Princesa Bays in Palawan;
Gigantes, Islands, Carles in Iloilo; Pilar Panay, President Roxas in Capiz and Sapian Bay; Mambuquiao and Camaci in Batan, Aklan; Batan Bay, Altavas and New Washington in Aklan,; Tambobo and Siit Bays, Siaton and Bais Bays in Negros Oriental; Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; San Pedro and Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City and Calubian and Leyte in Leyte; Biliran province;
Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay; Murclelagos Bay in Zamboana del Norte and Misamis Occidental; Taguines Lagoon, Benoni, Mahinog in Camaguin Island; Balite Bay, Mati in Davao Oriental; and, Hinatuan, Bislig and Llanga Bays in Surigao del Sur.
