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05.2010

In a letter to La Union Governor Manuel C. Ortega dated May 14, 2010, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region I Director Nestor D. Domenden informed the local chief executive of the presence of Red Tide Toxin within the nearby waters of Bolinao and Anda, Pangasinan as contained in BFAR’s Shellfish Bulletin 11 series of 2010.

The Bulletin also mentioned Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Bislig Bay in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Maritanao Bay in Eastern Samar; and Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga Del Norte and Misamis Occidental to be positive with Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) that is beyond regulatory limit. All types of shellfish and “Alamang” from the aforementioned areas are not safe for human consumption. Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe to eat provided that it is fresh, washed thoroughly and internal organs are removed before cooking.

As a precautionary measure, Director Domenden requested Governor Ortega to require market inspectors, quarantine officers and other concerned officials to demand for “Auxiliary Invoice” or Clearance for Domestic Movement from fish and seashell transporters or dealers to be sure that the subject marine products did not come from the affected areas.

The Governor immediately ordered massive dissemination of said reminder to the public thru the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
Red tide is a naturally-occurring, higher-than-normal concentration of the microscopic algae Karenia brevis . It produces a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish causing paralysis and difficulty of breathing making it unfit for human consunmptuion.