2 Pangasinan towns still under red tide alert

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – There’s no feasting yet on shellfish from the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda towns in Pangasinan as the red tide plague is still up there, according to the latest advisory from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

In a bulletin last Wednesday, BFAR-Region 1 director Nestor Domenden said shellfish samples collected from the waters of Bolinao and Anda were found still positive for the red tide toxin.

As a precautionary measure, Domenden urged local government units to require market inspectors, quarantine officers, and administrators to demand for an auxiliary invoice or clearance for domestic fish movement from transporters and dealers of fish and seashells that are unloaded from other provinces and municipalities to ensure that these did not come from areas where red tide exists.

Domenden advised the public not to eat shellfish and alamang that came from red tide-positive areas until further notice.

However, he said shrimps, crabs, fish and squids are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly and their internal organs such as gills and intestines removed before cooking.