Red tide alert up in Davao coastal waters
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Fri, 05 Apr 2019 08:27:19 +0000
THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR) warned the public against the consumption of shellfish in the red tide-infested waters in Davao.
In its latest shellfish bulletin dated April 4, BFAR said Balite Bay, Mati City in Davao Oriental and the coastal waters of Santa Maria in Davao Occidental were added to the list of areas found positive for the red tide toxin.
“All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the area shown are not safe for human consumption,” the BFAR advisory said.
“Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” it added.
In the same bulletin, BFAR said shellfishes collected at San Pedro Bay in Western Samar; Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur; and coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol were still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that was beyond the regulatory limit.
Red tide is a phenomenon caused by an explosive growth and accumulation of certain microscopic algae, predominantly dinoflagellates, in coastal waters.
The toxin, which can kill fish, birds, and marine mammals and cause illness in humans, can last days, weeks or months, and can also change daily due to wind conditions.
Eating shellfish from areas with red tide may lead to paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PSP could lead to “muscle paralysis and respiratory failure…and in these cases death may occur in 2 to 25 hours.” EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ
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