Eastern Visayas:he Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has issued a shellfish ban in 10 bays across Eastern Visayas following the detection of red tide toxins in the region, the agency announced on Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the BFAR stated that the latest seawater samples collected from the coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte, and Calbayog City in Samar province tested positive for red tide. This recent finding expands the previously identified contaminated areas last week, which included eight bodies of water across Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran province. The affected areas now encompass Biliran Island, Carigara Bay, Daram Island, Zumarraga Island, Cambatutay Bay, Irongirong Bay, Maqueda Bay-the largest body affected-and Matarinao Bay.
The BFAR advisory strictly warns the public against the collection, sale, or consumption of all types of shellfish and small shrimp from these areas. However, fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs can still be consumed if they are fresh and have bee
n properly cleaned, with internal organs such as gills and intestines removed before cooking.
The agency also provided insight into the potential causes of the red tide, attributing it to unusual weather patterns in the region, including dry spells followed by heavy rainfall. These conditions may trigger the upwelling of sediments that bring dormant red tide microorganisms to the surface. These organisms utilize the organic materials in the sediments to flourish and bloom. The BFAR highlighted that the changing current patterns in these areas could further spread the red tide blooms.
Known scientifically as harmful algal blooms, red tide occurs when certain algae proliferate excessively, sometimes discoloring the water red and indicating a high concentration of toxic microorganisms.