Davao shellfish ban lifted

THE SHELLFISH ban in Davao Oriental has been lifted, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has announced, but the red tide warning has been maintained over Masbate and Zamboanga.

Shellfish Bulletin No. 19, dated Aug. 3 and uploaded on BFAR’s Web site yesterday, stated that the bureau has lifted the toxic red tide warning on shellfish from Balite Bay, Mati, Davao Oriental.

The same notice also warned against the consumption of shellfish collected from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental, and the waters off Milagros, Masbate which tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison, or red tide, "beyond the regulatory limit."

"All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamanggathered from the areas [mentioned] above are not safe for human consumption," the bulletin read.

Fish, squid, shrimps and crabs have been declared safe, provided these are fresh, washed and with internal organs removed before cooking. Red tide is characterized by large concentration of algae discoloration of the water.

The bureau further said in the same notice that areas which remain free of red tide are the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan, and Bataan; coastal waters in Manila Bay; coastal waters of Bolinao, Anda, Alaminos and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; coastal waters of Mandaon in Masbate; Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; as well as the Honda and Puerto bays in Puerto Princesa City and Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Palawan.

Also declared safe were the coastal waters of Pilar, President Roxas, Pontevedra, Panay, Roxas City, Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; coastal waters of E.B. Magalona, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Valladolid, Talisay City, Silay City, Bacolod City, Hinigaran, Cadiz City, Victorias City, Bago City, Binalbagan and San Enrique in Negros Occidental; Irong-irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Ormoc, San Pedro, Cancabato and Carigara Bays in Leyte; Biliran waters in Biliran province; Hinatuan, Bislig and Lianga Bays in Surigao del Sur; and Taguines Lagoon in Benoni Mahinog, Camiguin Island. -- Bettina Faye V. Roc

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