TACLOBAN CITY — Residents and seafood consumers are being warned against gathering and eating shellfish from the coastal waters of Leyte, Leyte after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) detected paralytic shellfish toxin in samples collected from the area.
In a local red tide advisory issued Tuesday, August 25, BFAR said laboratory tests detected paralytic shellfish toxin, specifically saxitoxin, in the samples.
The agency said the advisory was issued as a precautionary measure while confirmatory testing is being conducted by the BFAR National Fisheries Laboratory Division.
The warning covers all types of shellfish and Acetes species, locally known as alamang, harvested from the affected coastal waters. BFAR urged the public to refrain from gathering, selling, buying, or consuming these products until the advisory is lifted.
The precautionary measure aims to protect public health and minimize the possible impact of the red tide episode on the local shellfish industry.
BFAR also reminded the public that shellfish bans remain in effect in two other areas in Eastern Visayas where previous samples tested positive for red tide toxins.
These areas include Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, covering the coastal waters of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo, as well as the coastal waters of Biliran Island.
All shellfish and Acetes, or alamang, harvested from these areas are considered unsafe for human consumption while the shellfish bans remain in effect.
Fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs harvested from affected waters, however, may still be consumed if they are fresh and properly prepared, BFAR said. Consumers are advised to remove internal organs, including the intestines and gills, wash the seafood thoroughly, and cook it properly.
Red tide occurs when certain algae multiply or accumulate in large numbers and produce toxins that can affect humans and marine organisms. People can develop paralytic shellfish poisoning after consuming shellfish that have accumulated these toxins.
BFAR stressed that cooking does not reliably destroy red tide toxins, making compliance with shellfish bans and advisories essential to prevent food poisoning.
The agency urged consumers to purchase shellfish only from safe and approved sources and to avoid harvesting shellfish from areas covered by red tide advisories or shellfish bans.
BFAR said it will issue further updates once confirmatory laboratory results for the Leyte, Leyte samples become available.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
