Red tide alert up in Samar

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 8 has confirmed that Irong-Irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in western Samar are positive of red tide toxins.

The BFAR-8, in an advisory, said collected shellfish samples from these areas showed positive sign of paralytic shellfish poisoning, such that shellfish toxicity level was significantly higher than the tolerable limit.

"All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered and collected from the areas were not safe for human consumption," the fishery bureau said in the advisory.

BFRA-8 also cautioned the public to refrain from eating, harvesting, marketing, and buying shellfishes from the three bays until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has gone down to the regulatory level.

However, fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe to eat provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking. (FREEMAN)