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BFAR monitoring 3 more areas for possible red tide threat
After warning the public of possible red tide poisoning from shellfish in parts of Bataan province, authorities are keeping an eye on at least three more marine areas in the country. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Marine Biotoxin Laboratory head Jun Relox also discouraged people in coastal areas from throwing their waste into the waters. "We continue to monitor the areas in Cavite, Bulacan and Parañaque for possible red tide poisoning there," Relox said in Filipino in an interview on dzBB radio Tuesday. For now, he said these three areas are considered "safe." On the other hand, he said local government units in those areas should help BFAR personnel monitor the situation. BFAR also appealed to residents in these coastal areas not to defecate or throw their waste into the water, saying this may contribute to more growth of poisonous algea. "Contributory factor ang domestic waste natin (Domestic waste might aggravate the spread of red tide toxins)," he said.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV On Monday, BFAR warned the public against consuming shellfish caught from at least seven coastal towns of Bataan, which have been afflicted by red tide. It said shellfish such as tahong (mussels) and talaba (oyster) from the eight coastal towns of Orani, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Mariveles and Balanga City have tested positive for red tide toxin. Other bodies of water have also been found to have breached the regulatory limit for paralytic shellfish poison included:
- Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur
- Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar
- Murcielagos Bay Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental
- Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon
- Carigara Bay in Leyte
- Bislig Bay in Surigao del Sur
