Iloilo City – There’s great news for seafood enthusiasts. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has declared that collecting, cooking, and eating shellfish from the waters of Western Visayas is now safe.
According to BFAR’s latest advisory, the town of Pontevedra in Capiz province, previously the only area still affected by paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), has been cleared. Director Demosthenes R. Escoto issued this update in a shellfish bulletin on Thursday, Jan. 11.
The declaration of safety followed an announcement in December 2023 that the coastal waters of Sapian Bay (Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz), Mambuquiao and Camanci in Aklan, Roxas City in Capiz, and the coastal waters of the Gigantes Islands in Carles, Iloilo, were free from the toxic red tide. These areas, including Pontevedra, had been under BFAR’s watch since August 2023.
BFAR advises that once toxic red tide is detected in an area, all types of shellfish and acetes sp. (alamang) from those areas are unsafe for human consumption. However, fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs are still safe to eat if they are fresh, thoroughly washed, and their internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
Other areas in the country still affected by toxic red tide include the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur; and the coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte.
Recalling the situation, the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 and the provincial governments of Capiz and Iloilo had expressed concerns over the presence of toxic red tide following food poisoning cases.
Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office revealed that five individuals from the towns of Balasan (four) and Carles (one) were hospitalized after consuming shellfish from Capiz.
In Capiz, there were 32 suspected PSP cases, including one fatality. These cases originated from the towns of Pilar and Pontevedra, as well as Roxas City.
The affected individuals exhibited symptoms like numbness, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and others after consuming green mussels (tahong).
Red tide poisoning, a potentially fatal condition linked to eating contaminated shellfish, can manifest neurological symptoms within 12 hours. These include numbness around the mouth or face, dizziness, a pricking sensation or paralysis in the hands and feet, body weakness, rapid pulse, difficulty in talking, swallowing, or breathing, headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In severe cases, treatment involves supportive measures like ventilatory support or artificial respiration, fluid therapy, and detoxification methods such as coconut water and brown sugar.
To prevent red tide poisoning, adhere to these guidelines during a red tide warning:
* Avoid eating shellfish, alamang, and small fishes.
* Wash seafood thoroughly.
* Remove the gills and intestines from fish, squids, and crabs, and the heads from shrimps./PN
