Red tide alert still up

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A red tide advisory of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was still up in the three coastal towns in Aklan.

                                                             PHOTO AKLAN FORUM

As of December 5, laboratory results showed shellfishes collected at Altavas, Batan and New Washington in Batan Bay are still positive for “paralytic shellfish poison  that is beyond the regulatory limit.”

Red tide alert is also up over the coastal waters of Pilar and Sapian Bay in Capiz; coastal waters of Gigantes Islands in Carles, Iloilo; Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental and coastal waters of Naval, Biliran Island province. 

BFAR also raised the alert over the coastal waters of Dauis in Bohol; Daram Island, Villareal, Maqueda, Irong-Irong and Cambatutay Bays in Western Samar and Carigara Bay in Leyte.

The red tide advisory also included the coastal waters of President Roxas in Capiz and coastal waters of Leyte in Leyte. 

Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs from these coastal areas are safe for human consumption but have to be fresh and washed thoroughly. Their internal organs such as gills and intestines should also be removed before cooking, the BFAR red tide warning said

With the advisory, the livelihood of many traders, fishermen and residents were seriously affected by the presence of red tide toxins in the coastal waters of Altavas, Batan and New Washington. 

“Itong shellfishes ay malaking sources ng livelihood namin. Apektado ang delivery ng mga shellfishes sa Boracay, lalo na peak season sa isla itong mga buwan,” a trader from Altavas, Aklan said on Thursday.