CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, (PIA) – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Regional Office 8 announced that shellfish samples collected from Cambatutay Bay (Tarangnan) in Samar and Carigara Bay (Carigara, Capoocan, Barugo and San Miguel) in Leyte are now positive of the red tide toxin.
The Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin level in shellfish samples collected from the said areas is 76-114 ugSTXeq/100g of shellfish meat.
This is different from the advisory issued on Oct 13 where it said that shellfish samples from Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan and Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan were found positive beyond the regulatory limits for levels of saxitoxin, toxin that causes PSP.
In its Oct 15 laboratory report, Cambatutay Bay in Samar and Carigara Bay in Leyte were found positive for PSP while the coastal waters of Irong-Irong Bay, also in Samar remains positive of toxic microorganism.
The public is then advised to refrain from eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting and marketing shellfish from these coastal waters until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has gone down below the regulatory limit of 60 ugSTXeq/100g of shellfish meat.
However, BFAR informed that fish harvested from the said area are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
The government through BFAR facilities continuously monitor Cambatutay, Irong-Irong and Carigara Bays to safeguard public health and to protect the fishery industry in Leyte and Samar. (ldl/nbq/PIA 8-Samar)
