BFAR warns Bicol folk of red tide in Sorsogon

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. yesterday cautioned the public anew not to consume mussels and other shellfish gathered in the waters of Sorsogon Bay and in Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon as these areas have tested positive to the presence of red tide.

The BFAR issued the warning following reports of deaths in Albay from the alleged consumption of shellfish harvested from Sorosogon Bay .

Sarmiento said the BFAR had imposed a ban on the catching, harvesting and consumption of mussels from these areas since May.

Bulletins have been issued regularly twice a month to appraise local government units of the occurrence of toxic red tide in their areas of responsibilities. 

The latest bulletin was issued Nov. 6.

Aside from Juag lagoon and Sorsogon bay, a red tide bloom is present in the coastal waters of Milagros, Masbate and Dumanquillas bay in Zamboanga del Sur.

“There is no way for the public to detect red tide contaminated shellfish, such that, if the local government would not seriously enforce the ban on harvesting in contaminated waters, many will continue to be victimized,” Sarmiento said.

The BFAR head said that municipality and city governments have jurisdictions over municipal waters as mandated by RA 8550, or the Fisheries Code of 1998. 

Under this law, LGUs are given the power to enforce all fishery laws, rules and regulations as well as valid fishery ordinances enacted by the city or municipal councils.

Red tide poisoning is caused by the presence of the toxic dinoflagellate known as Pyrodinium bahamense var compressum in shellfish.

A filter feeder, mussels and oysters accumulate the dinoflagellate in its system yet is not affected by the toxin.

People who eat the contaminated shellfish and are very sensitive to the toxin could die if the ingested amount of toxin is lethal.

Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon are among the primary areas under the watchlist of the BFAR for red tide occurrences. Sampling of water and shellfish are being conducted weekly in these areas and advisories and bulletins are regularly released twice a month.

BFAR advises consumers to be extra vigilant and cautious in buying shellfish from areas that are positive from red tide.

Sarmiento clarified, though, that fish caught in red tide-affected waters are safe to eat provided that the gills and all other internal organs are removed and the fish is cooked properly.