Red tide alert up in Tacloban’s Cancabato Bay
TACLOBAN CITY–The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas has issued a red tide warning over Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City after seawater samples tested positive for Pyrodinium bahamense, a toxin-producing microorganism responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
BFAR, in an Aug. 10 advisory, said filtered seawater samples from the bay confirmed the presence of saxitoxin, the dangerous substance associated with red tide events.
Residents and fisherfolk were strongly advised to refrain from gathering, selling, and consuming all types of shellfish and Acetes species—locally known as “alamang” or “hipon”—from the affected area.
The same warning remained in effect for Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar, where similar contamination has been detected.
Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar—covering the coastal towns of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo— also remained under a shellfish ban. Shellfish meat samples collected from the bay continue to yield positive results for red tide toxins.
Matarinao Bay has been under red tide alert since July 29 of this year.
BFAR stressed that while shellfish from these areas were unsafe, other seafood such as fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs could be consumed, provided they were fresh and cleaned thoroughly, with internal organs like intestines and gills removed before cooking.
Local governments and fisherfolk have been urged to strictly observe the advisory to protect public health and prevent possible poisoning incidents.
