ANDA, Pangasinan — The municipal government of Anda is closely monitoring the implementation of the ban on gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing of shellfish products, which are positive for red tide toxin based on the testing conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 1 (Ilocos).
Mayor Aldrin Cerdan of Anda, in a phone interview Monday, said they advised residents who depend on shellfish for livelihood to refrain from harvesting these in their localities.
“The residents already know and some of them are into fishing so they still have alternative source of income,” Cerdan said.
BFAR-1 raised the red tide alert on Anda as well as in the nearby town of Bolinao on April 26 through regional shellfish advisory no. 1 series of 2019.
“Shellfish samples collected from coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda in Pangasinan are now positive for the red tide toxin. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin level in shellfish sample (was) collected from the said areas,” BFAR-1 stated in the advisory.
BFAR-1 advised the public to refrain from eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing shellfish from the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda, Pangasinan until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has normalized.
The agency, however, clarified that fish harvested from these areas are safe for consumption provided that these are fresh and washed thoroughly, and their internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
“The BFAR and the local government units are continuously monitoring coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda to safeguard public health and to protect the fishery industry,” BFAR-1 said.
PSP can be harmful to the people who eat contaminated shellfish products as it can cause severe illness or death.
For the latest updates about this story, visit the Philippine News Agency website
