Red tide hits Davao Oriental bay

DAVAO CITY — Balite Bay, known for its rich harvest of shellfish, squids, crabs and shrimps, apart from being a tourist attraction in Davao Oriental, is now painted "red" — with red tide microorganisms, that is.

Thus, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has banned the sale of shellfish as well as alamang harvested from the bay waters in the capital town of Mati.

Balite Bay is one of five areas in the country found with red tide microorganisms. The others are Masinloc waters in Zambales, Mandaon and Milagros waters in Masbate and Dumaquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur.

Provincial fishery officer Alfeo Piloton said an inter-agency task force has been continuously monitoring the red tide level in Balite Bay.

Piloton clarified that fish, squid, shrimp and crabs harvested in Balite Bay are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh, thoroughly washed and their entrails totally removed before cooking. — Edith Regalado