Shellfish from 7 coastal areas still banned

The inter-agency Red Tide Task Force warned the public yesterday that shellfish taken from seven coastal areas across the country are still contaminated with red tide toxin.

In an advisory, the task force said that harvesting and selling of shellfish from Milagros waters in Masbate; Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon; San Pedro Bay in Marabut, Western Samar; Balite Bay in Davao Oriental; and Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur are still prohibited.

"The latest laboratory analyses on shellfish and seawater samples show that the coastal areas are still positive for red tide toxin and therefore are still under the shellfish ban," the advisory read.

Red tide organisms are naturally found in the seabed but they go up to the surface because of pollutuon and strong current. They contaminate shellfish, which are stationary.

The task force noted that coastal areas like Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay remain free of toxin.

The group added that "alamang" taken from red-tide affected areas are also not safe for human consumption.

While fish, squid, shrimp and crab are safe to be eaten if they are fresh, their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed and they are washed thoroughly before cooking.