BFAR: red-tide alert in Tagbilaran strait

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

Sunday 1st of July 2012

CORTES, Bohol, July 01 (PIA) -– Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-Bohol) raised an alarm against gathering and eating shellfish from the tide flats of Tagbilaran City bay following a suspected case of red tide.

BFAR-Bohol head Cresencio Pahamutang explained the alarm is based on an algal bloom, which is what caused the red coloration in the waters (red tide) that witnesses observed on the sea below Matig-a Lodge along Burgos Street, Tagbilaran City.

Pahamutang said BFAR confirmed the reports based on the latest results from the 10 monitoring stations set up at specific points between Dauis Bridge in Junction Mansasa to Maribojoc Bay.

Algal bloom happens when an unusually large concentration of aquatic micro-organisms amass in a coastal area, often causing discoloration, states Wikipedia.

When the algae is present in high concentrations, water can be discolored from murky, to purple to pink or red, thus, its common name the red tide, continues Wikipedia.

According to Pahamutang, a worker at the Matig-a Lodge reported the unusual discoloration in the waters, prompting the BFAR to investigate by going to their monitoring stations.

From their tests, Pahamutang shared that from the usual three cells per liter average yield in the collecting stations, they noticed around 1,475 to 1,365 cells per liter.

A total ban and alarm against shellfish gathering and eating was issued when the mirco-organisms monitored reach 10,000 units per liter, he explained.

With the noticed unusually high concentration of algal micro-organisms in the Tagbilaran Strait, the BFAR said they have coordinated with the Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council as well as Poblacion 1 Barangay Chairman Arlene Karaan to advise people to stop harvesting shellfish from the mentioned areas.

Pahamutang said these algae, also called dinoflagellates have toxins that are usually absorbed by bottom feeding shellfish, making them unfit for human consumption.

For fishes from the area, the BFAR chief said as long as the fish is properly prepared before cooking, it may not be affected as much.

By proper preparation, Pahamutang said taking off the gills and the innards can be good enough. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)