2 Pangasinan areas cleared of red tide

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines – The coastal waters in this city and in Barangay Wawa in Bani town were declared free of algae that causes the red tide toxin, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said yesterday.

In an advisory dated Jan. 22, BFAR said shellfish harvested from this city and Barangay Wawa are safe for human consumption.

“Gathering, transporting, marketing of shellfish from these areas are now permitted,” BFAR said.

The advisory also said that shellfish samples collected from the waters of Bolinao and Anda, also in Pangasinan, remain positive for the red tide toxin.

Local government units were advised to require market inspectors, quarantine officers and administrators to demand auxiliary invoice or clearance for domestic fish movement from fish and seashell dealers and transporters.

The agency said fish, squid, shrimps and crabs harvested from Bolinao and Anda are safe for human consumption provided these are fresh, washed thoroughly and the internal organs removed before cooking.