TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has raised a shellfish ban in several coastal areas in Eastern Visayas after recent laboratory tests confirmed the presence of red tide toxins.
In its latest advisory issued on December 1, BFAR reported that shellfish meat samples collected from the coastal waters of Zumarraga in Samar and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar—covering the towns of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo—tested positive for saxitoxin, a potent red tide toxin.
Because of this, BFAR said all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. (alamang) gathered from these waters are unsafe for human consumption.
Local red tide warnings also remain in effect over Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City and Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar, where filtered seawater samples were found positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, the dinoflagellate responsible for producing saxitoxin.
Red tide is a harmful algal bloom (HAB) that occurs when toxin-producing microorganisms, such as dinoflagellates, multiply rapidly in coastal waters. While not all algal blooms are toxic, species like Pyrodinium bahamense release saxitoxin, which accumulates in shellfish.
Humans who consume contaminated shellfish may suffer from paralytic shellfish poisoning, a potentially fatal condition that can cause tingling, dizziness, paralysis, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.
Environmental factors such as warmer temperatures, nutrient-rich runoff, and calm seas can trigger these blooms, making them a recurring concern in Eastern Visayas.
BFAR reiterated its precautionary advisory urging the public to avoid harvesting, selling, and eating shellfish and alamang from all affected bays to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning.
However, the agency clarified that fish, squid, shrimp, and crab from these areas remain safe to eat, provided they are fresh and thoroughly cleaned, with internal organs removed before cooking.
The agency continues to monitor the affected waters and will lift the ban once toxin levels return to safe limits.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
