Sorsogon Bay Declared Free From Red Tide

SORSOGON CITY, March 23 --For more than three years now, shellfish enthusiasts who have avoided different kinds of shellfish particularly green mussel (locally known as tahong) harvested from Sorsogon Bay, now have a reason to party following release of laboratory results that the bay is finally free from the deadly red tide toxin.

Latest laboratory results of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) say shellfish collected at Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon province, is now free from the toxic red tide organism.

The BFAR regional office in Bikol in a bulletin declared the negative results obtained from the water and shellfish meat samples at Mandaon and Milagros waters in Masbate, Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon, of harmful algal bloom or red tide.

However, the public is still reminded to remain on guard and advised to buy only fresh marine products and to wash them thoroughly, removing internal organs before cooking.

Particularly now that the country is currently suffering from the brunt of El Niño phenomenon, there is a high possibility of re-occurrence of harmful algal bloom or red tide in previously contaminated coastal waters, so the public has to take necessary precautions and be kept updated of the latest results of BFAR's regular monitoring activities.

Significantly, coastal waters in some 19 provinces in the country are free from said toxin. However, shellfish collected at Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Bislig Bay in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur and Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

"Furthermore, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar is now positive for red tide toxin," the BFAR Bulletin said.

With the lifting of the shellfish ban in Sorsogon Bay, locals here expect a remarkable recovery of the shellfish industry which was hurt for quite a long time as thousands of the populace are dependent on this industry. (PNA)