Carigara Bay in Leyte now positive for red tide toxins

The Carigara Bay in Leyte is now positive for paralytic shellfish poison, along with several other areas, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned on Wednesday.

"Carigara Bay in Leyte is now positive for red tide toxin," the BFAR said in its Shellfish Bulletin No. 28 dated August 22 and released on Wednesday.

Aside from the Carigara Bay, the following areas also remain to be positive for paralytic shellfish poison beyond the regulatory limit:

• Irong-Irong, Maqueda, and Villareal Bays in Western Samar
• Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar
• Balite Bay, Mati in Davao Oriental
• Tambobo Bay, Siaton in Negros Oriental
• Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay and Puerto Princesa Bay, Puerto Princesa in Palawan
• Coastal waters of Gigantes Islands, Carles in Iloilo
• Coastal waters of Mandaon and Placer in Masbate

"All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the area shown above are not safe," the BFAR said.

"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," it added. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG, GMA News