Seashells from "red tide" provinces sold in Cebu?

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the region has warned the public of seashells contaminated by red tide possibly being sold in Cebu markets.

BFAR-7 Regional Director Dionisio dela Peña said that BFAR's Monitoring Control and Surveillance Fisheries Quarantine Team has found out that there are still green mussels, locally known as " tahong " from Samar and Masbate provinces being sold in Cebu Markets that do not have the necessary auxiliary invoices or permits and laboratory certification that the shellfish are free from the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxins from its point of origin.

Dela Peña said these shellfish products are believed to be transported to Cebu via pumpboats from Samar and Leyte and unloaded in small ports in Cebu's northern towns such as Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Bogo, Tabuelan and Tuburan.

He said local government units should be extra vigilant in monitoring and intercepting shellfish shipments in their areas and inform BFAR-7 immediately in cases of illegal shipments.

Dela Peña said major shipping lines and cargo vessels plying Samar, Leyte, and Masbate to Cebu and vice versa are no longer accepting shellfish shipments following the advice from BFAR.

Earlier, BFAR issued an advisory stating that shellfish samples collected from Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar are positive of the red tide toxin and toxic red tide organism.

Toxins on these shellfish can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning to humans that is why the public is advised to refrain from eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing shellfish from Maqueda and Villareal Bay until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has gone down below the regulatory level.

The regulatory level of shellfish toxins is 40ug/100grams of shellfish meat. - Jasmin R. Uy