DAGUPAN CITY ,Philippines – Red tide algae have contaminated the coastal waters of Anda and Bolinao towns in Pangasinan, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said.
In an advisory dated Feb. 9, BFAR said shellfish samples showed the level of toxins that case paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) beyond the regulatory limit.
The advisory said at least three Pangasinan towns are now affected by red tide, including Bani, which remains positive for PSP.
BFAR said all types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption. 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, the advisory added.
Benjamin Tabios Jr., BFAR officer-in-charge, advised the public to refrain from eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing shellfish from the affected coastal waters until the toxicity level has gone down.