The Star 26 Feb 15;
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has issued a red tide warning after detecting the deadly algal bloom in waters off the state’s west coast.
Sabah Fisheries Department director Datuk Rayner Stuel Galid said the phenomenon, common during dry spells, was detected in Tg Badak, Trayong and Karambunai in the city here, and Tuaran.
Algal bloom is a natural phenomenon where algae form large colonies, sometimes bringing harmful effects to marine life, besides lending a tint (not always red) to the sea. This depends on the species and density of the bloom.
“With the dry spell, we expect it to spread,” Galid said yesterday.
He said based on samples obtained, the species responsible had been identified as the plankton Cochlodinium polykrioides, an organism capable of inflicting serious damage to aquatic life, including fish farms.
“At the moment, there is a high level of plankton that could suffocate fish,” he pointed out.
Galid urged fish farm operators in areas affected by red tide to move their fish to tanks.
“Consumption of seafood affected by this plankton will not pose any health risk. However, we have yet to detect planktons that cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning,” he said.
He added if that happened, a general alert would be issued to the public as human fatalities could occur, “especially when one consumes seafood such as shellfish”.
The toxins are not soluble in water and remain stable despite the heat and acids, rendering ordinary cooking methods ineffective in eliminating them.
If PSP is detected, the public would be asked to refrain from consuming shellfish or bivalves, including oysters, mussels, cockles and any type of clam-like seafood.
The Sabah Fisheries Department and Sabah Health Department conduct year-long monitoring to detect PSP toxins in bivalves.
Red tide problem in Sabah to persist till June, says fisheries dept
The Rakyat Post 26 Feb 15;
The red tide phenomenon made a comeback this month, affecting the Tuaran waters and is expected to persist until June this year.
According to Sabah Fisheries Department director Rayner Stuel Galid the toxin levels were expected to peak around March.
He advised the people to avoid any type of shellfish or bivalves, including cockles, oysters and mussels.
He said the Department issued a warning related to the red tide phenomenon about two weeks ago, adding it had collected samples to analyse the poison levels in shellfish in the affected area.
“To date, we have not received any reports of casualties,” he told The Rakyat Post.”
He said the red tide was caused by chemicals excreted by poisonous plankton, which at present, would suffocate fishes in affected areas.
He added after analysing salt water samples, the department detected a species of plankton known as Cochlodinnium polykrikoides, which made it safe for now, to eat fish caught from affected areas.
“But the public are beginning to be very cautious and are more aware of the situation and the red tide’s implications.
“The department will continue to monitor and analyse samples until the phenomenon comes to an end. The situation will be back to normal when there is constant rain.”
He said the last red tide phenomenon was reported two years ago, detected in four districts from Papar up to Kota Belud.
At least four casualties were recorded then, he revealed.
Galid added the red tide toxin in shellfish was analysed using the mouse bioassay method.
He said levels higher than 400 Mouse units (MU) were considered dangerous for humans.
In past years, he said red tide occurrences in Sabah had revealed bivalves to contain toxin levels as high as 11,000 MU.
He added only the Fisheries Department could detect toxin presence in shellfish, as the poison was not visible, nor did it have any smell or taste.
Galid said the toxin in these shellfish could not be removed through washing or cooking.
Early symptoms of shellfish poisoning due to red tide include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes of eating poisonous shellfish or may take an hour or two to develop.
Depending upon the amount of toxin a person has ingested, these symptoms may progress to a sensation of “pricking of pins and needles” of the skin and then loss of control of arms and legs, followed by difficulty in breathing.
Those who experience these symptoms are advised to get medical treatment immediately at the nearest hospital or clinic, because delayed treatment may result in death.
