The Department of Agriculture through Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Malcolm I. Sarmiento Jr. cautions the public again not to consume mussels and other shellfishes gathered in the waters of Sorsogon Bay and in Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon as these areas are positive to the presence of red tide.

BFAR made this reiteration following reports of deaths in Albay caused by the consumption of shellfishes harvested from Sorsogon Bay.

Sarmiento said that the BFAR has banned the catching, harvesting and consumption of mussels from these areas since May of this year. Bulletins have been issued regularly twice a month to appraised local governments of the occurrence of toxic red tide in their areas of responsibilities. The latest bulletin on this was issued November 6, 2008.

Aside from Juag lagoon and Sorsogon bay, a red tide bloom are also found to be present in the coastal waters of Milagros, Masbate and Dumanquillas bay in Zamboanga del Sur.

“There is no way for the public to detect red tide contaminated shellfish, such that, if the local government would not seriously enforce the ban on harvesting in contaminated waters, many will continue to be victimized”, Sarmiento pointed out.

Sarmiento said that municipality and city governments have jurisdictions over municipal waters as mandated by RA 8550, or the Fisheries Code of 1998. Under this law, LGUs are given the power to enforce all fishery laws, rules and regulations as well as valid fishery ordinances enacted by the city or municipal councils, he said.

Red tide poisoning is caused by the presence of the toxic dinoflagellate known as Pyrodinium bahamense var compressum in shellfishes. Being a filter feeder, mussels and oysters accumulates the dinoflagellate in its system yet is not affected by the toxin. On the other hand, people who eat the contaminated shellfish are very sensitive to the toxin, and in lethal doses could even cause deaths.

Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon are among the primary areas under the watch list of the BFAR for red tide occurrences. Sampling of water and shellfishes are being conducted weekly in these areas and advisories and bulletins are regularly release twice a month.

BFAR advises the consumers to be extra vigilant and cautious in buying shellfishes from areas that are positive from red tide.

Sarmiento emphasized however that fish caught in these waters are safe to eat provided that the gills and all other internal organs are removed and the fish is cooked properly.

The BFAR director said that based on the latest BFAR Shellfish Bulletin, the following areas continue to be FREE from Toxic red tides: coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay; coastal waters of Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; coastal waters of Mandaon on Masbate; Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay and El Nido Palawan; Tinagong Dagat in President Roxas and Sapian Bay, Capiz; coastal waters of Hinigaran, Talisay City, Bacolod City, Victorias City, E. B. Magalona, Pontevedra, Villadolid, San Enrique, and Polopandan in Negros Occidental; Irong-Irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar; Ormoc, San Pedro, Cancabato and Carigara Bays in Leyte; Biliran Waters in Biliran Province; Hinatuan, Lianga and Bislig Bays in Surigao del Sur; Taguines Lagoon in Camiguin Island; Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental; and coastal waters of kabasalan in Sibuguey Bay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Fish and other shellfishes caught in these areas are safe for human consumption.