ALL types of shellfishes and shrimp harvested from Balite Bay in Davao Oriental are not safe for human consumption as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned the public of a red tide on February 2.
Aside from the Balite Bay in Davao Oriental, BFAR also warned against the harvesting, selling, buying, and eating of shellfishes and shrimps from several other coastal areas in the Philippines after these were also tested positive of paralytic shellfish poison beyond the regulatory limit.
These include the coastal waters of Western Samar particularly of Daram Island, Cambatutay Bay, and Irong-irong Bay. Also included in the warning are the coastal waters of Leyte, Mabarinao bay in Eastern Samar, Dauis and Tagbilaran City, Carigara Bay in Leyte, Puerto Princesa Bay, Gigantes Island in Iloilo, and the coastal waters of Biliran Province.
In a phone interview, BFAR-Davao Regional Director Faitma Idris said only shellfishes and crustaceans are dangerous because these are bottom feeders that eat the toxic algae causing the red tide.
Idris added fishes and other seafood are safe as long as they are cooked properly and the entrails are removed.
Red tide occurs when algae rapidly increase in numbers to the extent that it dominates the local planktonic or benthic community.
