Fish should be cleaned thoroughly, expert says ?

MANILA, Philippines - With the increasing amount of acid or chemicals in Philippine seas, Filipinos should make sure to thoroughly clean the fish they eat to avoid ingesting parasites of harmful organisms.

Vachel Gay Paller, an associate professor at the University of the Philippines- Los Baños’ Institute of Biological Science, said that water analyses on seawater gathered from coastal and fishing areas of the country have consistently shown high amounts of acidity or toxicity.

“We need to properly cook the fish that we eat,” Paller said in her presentation on “Fish Health and its Implications to Food Security” at the Luzon Regional Scientific Meeting of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) at the CAP Convention Center in Camp John Hay in Baguio City last week.

“It’s OK if there is just a parasite there. We can withstand the presence of that parasite,” Paller said.

Paller, however, said that with the amount of organisms detected in seawaters, one’s health is at risk if fish headed for the dinner table is not properly prepared.

“We should avoid high amounts of parasites in our system… That’s when harmful imbalances happen,” Paller said.

“We’re not saying that we should not eat fish. We should be conscientious in how we prepare our food,” she said.

The NAST is highlighting issues surrounding the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources as it prepares for its 39th Annual Scientific Meeting this July.