BFAR bans sea urchins from Bogo and Medellin

CEBU, Philippines – To avoid poisoning, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has advised the public to refrain from eating, harvesting, transporting and marketing sea urchins from coastal waters of Bogo and Medellin in northern Cebu.

Based on the results of harmful algal bloom/red tide monitoring activities of BFAR, sea urchin samples from coastal waters of Bogo City, Cebu particularly Salmacis sphaeroides and trypneustis sp., locally known as “concon” and “swaki” have been found to be positive of ciguatoxin.

Ciguatoxin is a seafood toxin that is acquired by eating fish that have consumed toxic single-celled marine organisms called dinoflagellates or fish that have consumed other fish that have become toxic. When someone eats these fish, they suffer seafood poisoning.

Alma Saavedra, BFAR-7 information officer, explained that the latest sampling they have made was done last May 19 in coastal waters of Tubod Kanhabagat, Medellin.

Prior to this, she said BFAR had constant samplings in the said area since last quarter of 2008, and they had it every month.

Since March of this year the coastal waters of Bogo and Medellin was found positive of ciguatoxin.

“We advice already the municipal agriculturist in Bogo and Medellin especially the fisher folk to refrain from eating sea urchin,” said Saavedra.

The ban on eating sea urchins from the coastal waters of Bogo and Medellin will be in effect until such time that the toxin level becomes negative. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)