Cebu City, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR-7) said shellfish from Cebu are safe for consumption.
This even as red tide alert was declared in some of the coastal areas in Bohol, Samar and Surigao.
“Okay ra mokaon og mga shell diri sa Cebu as long as dili ni gikan sa Bohol,” said Luzviminda Bato, Aquachemist of BFAR-7.
(It is okay to eat shells in Cebu as long as it is not from Bohol.)
According to the Shellfish Bulletin No. 06 in BFAR’s website, all types of shellfish and “alamang” gathered from San Pedro Bay in Western Samar, Lianga bay in Surigao del Sur and Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, are not safe for human consumption.
BFAR clarified that fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe to eat.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a disease caused by contaminated shellfish that contains toxins.
Among of the areas that are free from red tide are the coastal areas of Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and some coastal waters of Luzon and Mindanao. /bmjo