THE Eastern Visayas have been declared free from red tide toxins after nearly five years, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported.
The BFAR said that the results of laboratory tests on Feb. 7 detected no red tide organisms in the region.
The last time the region was red tide-free was in 2017.
The last areas cleared of red tide are: San Pedro Bay, Samar; Carigara Bay, Leyte; Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City; Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Matarinao Bay, Eastern Samar; and the waters off Biliran Island.
Red tide notices have been regularly issued for Matarinao Bay, Carigara Bay, and Cancabato Bay.
“After almost five years of regular issuance of red tide advisories, we’re now finally red tide-free. Hopefully, we will have a longer period like this with the interplay of weather. We need this for us to have a good harvest of shellfish products,” BFAR Eastern Visayas Regional Director Juan D. Albaladejo said in a statement.
“Even if shellfish ban is lifted in these areas, our active surveillance will continue since we are still experiencing rains. This may cause runoff of soil sediments rich in organic load that fertilized the cyst of red tide in these bays,” he added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
