BFAR detects shellfish poison in 10 coastal waters

Ten areas across the country were found positive for paralytic shellfish poison or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Friday.

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

• Milagros in Masbate;
• Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon;
• coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol;
• Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar;
• Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur;
• Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte;
• Murcielagos Bay (Sapang Dalaga and Baliangao) in Misamis Occidental;
• Balite Bay, Mati City in Davao Oriental;
• Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur

"Moreover, San Pedro Bay in Western Samar is now positive for red tide toxin," BFAR added.

BFAR said  Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs  from the aforementioned areas are safe for consumption, “provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.”  —KBK, GMA News