Red tide warning up in San Pedro Bay, Western Samar
THE BUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued a red tide warning in San Pedro Bay, Western Samar and advised consumers to avoid eating shellfish harvested from the area.
BFAR said in its 22nd shellfish bulletin that areas still affected by red tide include Milagros, Masbate; Sorsogon Bay, Sorsogon; Dauis and Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Matarinao Bay, Eastern Samar; and Dumanquillas Bay, Zamboanga del Sur.
Other parts of the country that have red tide warnings are Murcielagos Bay, Zamboanga del Norte; Murcielagos Bay (Sapang Dalaga and Baliangao), Misamis Occidental; Balite Bay, Davao Oriental; and Lianga Bay, Surigao del Sur.
All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang sourced in areas with red tide warnings are unfit for human consumption. However, other marine produce harvested from the same areas can still be eaten with proper handling.
Red tide occurs due to large concentrations of algae in the water. Human consumption of contaminated shellfish may result in paralytic shellfish poisoning, which affects the nervous system.
Typical symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning are headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Severe cases may cause muscular paralysis and respiratory problems. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
