Red tide alert up in Leyte town

CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 8, in an advisory dated December 28, raised anew a red tide alert around the seas of Leyte town in Leyte province.

The BFAR-8's shellfish ban is hoisted over Leyte town, where the popular shellfish "barinday" (carpet clam or nylon shell) is sourced. Eating, gathering, transport and marketing of shell fish from Leyte's waters are prohibited.

Irish Belmonte, fishery technician of the Agricultural Office, said that tahong or "green mussel" is also no-no because it is sourced from Samar where a red tide alert remains enforced. (FREEMAN)