Philippines: Red tide alert up in Visayas

PNA The Standard 21 Dec 16;

SHELLFISH collected from several areas in the Visayas are still unfit for human consumption due to toxic red tide, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources warned on Wednesday.

In its latest shellfish bulletin dated December 20, BFAR said the paralytic shellfish poison can still be found in Irong-Irong and Cambatutay Bays in Western Samar, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, Leyte, Naval in Biliran province, Gigantes Islands in Carles, Iloilo and Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

“Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” said the BFAR.

Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon known as an algal bloom (large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms) when it is caused by a few species of dinoflagellates and the bloom takes on a red or brown color. Red tides are events in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column, resulting in coloration of the surface water. It is usually found in coastal areas.