Shellfish ban enforced in Leyte's Carigara Bay

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has imposed a shellfish ban in Leyte’s Carigara Bay after finding red tide microorganisms there.

In an advisory submitted to the Department of Health, BFAR director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. said Carigara Bay “is now positive for red tide toxin.”

BFAR found this out after collecting and testing shellfish samples from the bay.

A shellfish ban is now also enforced in Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Dumanguillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Mata-rinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Murcielagos Bay in Zam-boanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon.

Sarmiento said shellfish from these bays “are still positive for paralytic shellfish poisoning that is beyond the regulatory limit.”

BFAR warned that “all types of shellfish or Acetes sp or alamang gathered from these areas… are not safe for human consumption.”

“Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” the agency said.