Red tide has been reported in Sorsogon Bay, prompting the government to whistle the warning signal for people to avoid eating shellfish and imposing a clampdown from gathering and selling it for food.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Bicol region has issued a local red tide warning for Sorsogon Bay, after shellfish meat samples from it tested positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) by the BFAR-Regional Fisheries Laboratory.
However, fish, squid, shrimp and crabs from Sorsogon Bay are still safe to eat, it is only necessary to properly remove their entrails before cooking.
Because of this, BFAR-Bicol immediately stops the acquisition, sale, purchase and consumption of any shellfish in the bay, including the “alamang”.
“To safeguard human lives and mitigate impacts to the shellfish industry while waiting for the BFAR Central Office confirmatory results using Receptor Binding Assay (RBA), this WARNING is issued as a precautionary advice to the consuming public,” explained BFAR-Bicol.
The agency assured that they are in contact with local governments around Sorsogon Bay, to keep the public safe from the poisonous red tide toxin.