No red tide in Western Visayas; shellfish safe to eat

The coastal waters of Western Visayas remain free from paralytic shellfish poison or toxic red tide, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-6).

Based on the agency’s latest bulletin, all types of shellfish (squids, crabs, shrimps, alamang) gathered from the region “are safe for human consumption.”

Red tide is a harmful algal bloom that can produce toxins affecting marine life and pose health risks to humans who consume contaminated seafood.

Meanwhile, BFAR-6 warned the public not to eat shellfish gathered from Zamboanga Sibugay, Samar, Zamboanga del Sur, Biliran, and Leyte.

Shellfish samples collected from these areas tested positive for toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.

Ingestion of a toxic shellfish due to red tide can cause numbness, drowsiness and respiratory paralysis.IMT