CAPIZ – Good news for fisherfolks in this province.
After several months, the coastal waters in Panay, President Roxas, and Pilar towns are finally free from paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide, according to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Shellfish Bulletin No. 06-2023.
With this, the provincial government of Capiz announced that it is now safe to eat shellfish and harvesting and selling of all types of shellfish are again allowed.
“Ang gobyerno probinsyal sang Capiz ang malipayon nga ginpahibalo sa publiko nga hilway na konsumohon kag ginapahanugutan na ang pag-harvest kag pagbaligya sang mga panginhason nga nagikan sa kalalawran nga sakop sang bug-os nga probinsya,” according to the Capiz Provincial Government Communication Group on Facebook.
The BFAR and the provincial government are continuously monitoring the coastal areas of the province.
The recent bulletin further showed that shellfish collected and tested from the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; San Pedro Bay in Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur are still positive for red tide toxin beyond regulatory limit.
All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from these areas were still not safe for human consumption.
Fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs, on the other hand, are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as the gills and intestines are removed before cooking./PN
