THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned the public against the continued presence of red tide in coastal waters in Bohol, Samar, Zamboanga del Sur and Surigao del Sur provinces.
In its latest bulletin over the weekend, the BFAR cautioned against collecting and eating shellfish from the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; San Pedro Bay in Samar; Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, as samples indicated they are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or the toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limits.
“All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the areas are not safe for human consumption,” it said.
Other marine species such as fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption but should be washed thoroughly and internal organs, such as gills and intestines, removed before cooking.
Earlier, the BFAR allowed fishing activities in three-oil spill hit towns in Oriental Mindoro.
The BFAR said the waters off the areas of Calapan, Bansud and Gloria are now well within the standards for fishing activities.
The bureau’s analyses also showed that the fishing waters of Bongabong, Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Baco, Puerto Galera and San Teodoro, also in Oriental Mindoro, remained safe for fishing activities.
The BFAR has recommended keeping the fishing ban in Pola, Pinamalayan and Naujan because of the risk of contamination from traces of oil spill in these areas.
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