The ban on harvesting shellfish from Bais Bay, Negros Oriental remains in effect despite a recent sampling of bivalves from the area tested negative for Red Tide, an official said Wednesday.
Florencia Mepaña, chief of the Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources in Negros Oriental, told the media that their regional office in Cebu City collected the shellfish samples from Bais Bay on Sept. 11.
The shellfish meat analysis turned out negative but water samples show a high cell count of pyrodinium (Red Tide dinoflagellates).
“This is kind of confusing, and so to make sure that humans are safe, the ban is still being enforced, and the recommendation is for us to conduct monitoring twice a month,” Mepaña said.
“A previous advisory issued weeks earlier banning the collection, sale, and consumption of shellfish from Bais Bay, therefore, remains in effect,” she said, adding that repeat laboratory analysis of shellfish in Bais Bay will be done soon.
Red Tide is a term used to describe a coastal phenomenon when warm sea temperatures can cause a rapid increase of harmful algae, discoloring the water, making it appear yellow, brown, green, or blue. Some red tides may cause fish kills, and produce potent toxins, or cause poisoning.
Meanwhile, samples from Tambobo Bay and Siit Bay in Siaton, turned out negative for Red Tide, the BFAR official said. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
