By Janine Alexis Miguel
HARVESTING and selling shellfish in five coastal areas in the Philippines have been prohibited after its waters tested positive for a paralytic toxin that causes red tide.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported on Wednesday that water samples gathered from Daquis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, San Pedro Bay in Samar, Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur have tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide.
BFAR added that shellfish and acetes shrimp or "alamang" collected from the said areas are not safe for human consumption. Clams, cockles, oyster, mussels and scallops collected from these areas are also unsafe to eat.
The fisheries bureau also said that shellfish are particularly prone to toxin contamination as they feed by filtering microscopic food out of the water.
"Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking," BFAR said.
Based on the BFAR's administrative order on safety and quality control standards for PSP, the maximum regulatory limit of toxins is 60 micrograms for every 100 grams of shellfish meat for both domestic and foreign markets.
BFAR also released a warning that eating shellfish from red tide areas could cause headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tingling sensation on lips and tongue, and in extreme cases, death.
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