Red tide alert up in 3 Western Samar bays

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has confirmed that Irong-Irong, Maqueda and Villareal bays in Western Samar are positive for red tide microorganisms.

In an advisory, BFAR said laboratory tests on shellfish samples taken from the three bays show shellfish toxicity level that is significantly higher than the tolerable limit.

All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption, the bureau said.

The BFAR advised public to refrain from eating, harvesting, marketing, and buying shellfish from the three bays until the shellfish toxicity has gone down to a safe level.

The BFAR though said fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe to eat provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

Meanwhile, declared red tide-free in Region 8 are Cancabato Bay (Tacloban City); San Pedro Bay (Palo and Tanauan, Leyte); Carigara Bay (Carigara, San Miguel, Barugo, Capoocan and Babatngon, Leyte); Ormoc Bay (Ormoc City, Albuera, and Merida, Leyte); Sogod Bay (Sogod, Southern Leyte); Cambatutay Bay (Tarangnan, Samar); and Matarinao Bay (Salcedo, Quinapondan, Hernani and Gen. MacArthur, Eastern Samar).

The BFAR said it is continuously monitoring along with local governments the coastal waters of eastern Visayas to safeguard the public from red tide and to protect the local shellfish industry.