BY EUGENE Y. ADIONG
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental is on province-wide red tide alert.
Local agriculturists most especially those in coastal areas have been ordered to be on guard for the possible entry of red tide-contaminated sea products.
“Red tide” is a common term used for harmful algal blooms that occur when colonies of algae grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish and marine mammals.
In humans, the effects can be debilitating or even fatal.
Red tide hit Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar last week, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Eastern Visayas.
Shellfish and other marine products sold in Negros Occidental markets must be monitored, said Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan.
Random testing may be done to ensure that they are not contaminated with red tide toxins, Tabianan said.
In Tarangan, two reportedly died and 16 others hospitalized for shellfish poisoning in barangays Gallego and Bahay.
The victims ate mussels (tahong) harvested from Cambatutay Bay which, together with Maqueda Bay, is a major source of seafood in Samar.
Fishing boats from Samar docking in Negros Occidental must be reported to the authorities, Tabianan said.
The last time a red tide alert was declared in Negros Occidental was 15 years ago, said Tabianan.
Eating contaminated shellfish is the most common cause of red tide poisoning because it is a filter feeder and, unlike fish, its intestines are not removed before it is cooked./PN
