By Sarwell Meniano (PNA)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) imposed a shellfish ban on two bays in Eastern Visayas due to the recurrence of red tide.
Just last week, BFAR found the red tide algal bloom in Cancabato Bay in Leyte province after a week-long laboratory analysis. Red tide phenomenon has been up in Matarinao Bay since mid-2018, according to an advisory issued on Monday.
“The recurrence of red tide is highly expected in Matarinao. The area is semi-enclosed, and it takes time before the sea water flushes out. Pollution and high salinity triggered red tide in Cancabato Bay,” BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said in a phone interview.
“Usually, it is taking so long for Matarinao Bay. The longest recorded was in 2010 where it extended for a year. We need strong continuous rains and sustained wave action to flush out the red tide organism,” he added.
In the case of Cancabato Bay, this is the second red tide recurrence after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck. The first only lasted for three days, according to Albaladejo.
The presence of red tide in both meat and water calls for prohibition of gathering, trading and consumption of shellfish from identified areas over the possibility of shellfish poisoning. The bay, however, has a good flushing action due to strong current in Juanico Strait.
BFAR conducts weekly monitoring of sea water in bays hit by red tide in the past, but for positive areas, authorities examine water and meat samples three times weekly.
The fisheries bureau advised the public to refrain from eating, harvesting, selling, and buying shellfish products and Acetes sp. (small shrimps) from the affected bays until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has gone down below the regulatory level.
Fish caught in these areas are safe for human consumption provided these are fresh, washed and cooked thoroughly, according to the BFAR advisory.
