Shellfish ban in Puerto Princesa

A shellfish ban is now in effect over Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan after researchers from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) discovered the red tide contamination in the area.

Red Tide Task Force chairperson Zenaida Abuso said that four researchers from the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) were conducting research on dino flagellates in Philippine waters last week in Palawan when they discovered that Honda Bay was positive for the red tide organism.

Based on the Red Tide Update No. 18, the red tide organism found in Honda Bay was Pyrodinium bahamense variety compressum. The water in Honda Bay was found to have high cell density of the red tide organism, ranging from 269 to 1, 417 cells per liter of water sample. Apart from the shellfish ban, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also warned the public to refrain from consuming "alamang" from red tide affected areas. Other areas that are still under shellfish ban due to the presence of red tide organism and toxins are Masinloc waters in Zambales; Mandaon waters in Masbate; Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Bais Bay in Negros Oriental; and Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental. — Katherine Adraneda