BFAR warns Misamisnons of red tide toxin in Murcielagos Bay

Wednesday 20th of June 2012

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, June 20 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has continually warned the people of Misamis Occidental not to gather, not to sell, and not to eat the shellfish and minute shrimps harvested from Murcielagos Bay.

This is because the shellfish from Murcielagos Bay located in the boundary of Mis. Occ. and Zamboanga del Norte have been found to still contain the red tide toxin or paralytic shellfish poisoning, Gilda A. Abao, Provincial Fishery Officer sa BFAR-Mis. Occ., said.

Murcielagos Bay extends to the coastal barangays of the towns of Baliangao and Sapang Dalaga in Misamis Occidental.

Shellfish Bulletin No. 14, series of 2012, published by BFAR, last June 4, show that the laboratory results done on the shellfish and minute shrimps said it is not safe to gather, harvest, sell or eat the shellfish and minute shrimps harvested from the bay.

Based on the latest laboratory results conducted by BFAR and the local government units on the shellfish and minute shrimps in the area, the red tide toxin of paralytic shellfish poisoning is tested as positive.

People had to make sure that the fish, squid, shrimps, crabs they will eat had to be cleaned and cooked thoroughly, and their entrails thrown away, Abao added. (Pat Nano/PIO/PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)