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| Shellfish ban in Tacloban's Cancabato Bay after positive red tide toxins test. BFAR advises against gathering, selling, and eating shellfish from the area. |
TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has issued a warning against consuming shellfish taken from Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, Philippines, after meat samples tested positive for red tide toxins.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday night, BFAR stated that paralytic shellfish toxin was found during laboratory examinations by the BFAR-National Fisheries Laboratory in Quezon City.
As a result, no shellfish or Acetes sp. (locally known as Alamang or Hipon) should be collected, sold, or consumed from this bay. The government has now strictly prohibited shellfish harvesting in the affected area due to the high levels of toxins discovered.
According to BFAR, the change in weather patterns is to blame for the red tide presence in the region.
LATEST RED TIDE ADVISORY Shellfish Bulletin No.3 Series of 2023 January 25, 2023 Shellfishes collected and tested from...
Posted by BFAR Region 8 on Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Fish, squid, crab, and shrimp caught in these areas are safe to eat if all entrails are removed, and the marine products are thoroughly washed with running water before cooking.
The BFAR has urged local government units to increase their oversight of the collection, trade, and consumption of shellfish to prevent the occurrence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), which can occur minutes after ingesting bivalve shellfish containing red tide toxins.
Initial PSP symptoms include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may progress to tingling of the fingers and toes, followed by loss of arm and leg control and breathing difficulties. It is a serious condition that can lead to death if not treated immediately.
The public is advised to take caution and strictly follow the warning issued by BFAR. Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon in which the water is discolored by high algal biomass or a high concentration of algae.