Rosalinda Canas of the BFAR Red Tide Monitoring Laboratory referred to this as BFAR Shellfish Advisory No. 12 Series of 2012 issued on 26 July, 2012 and signed by OIC director Remedios Ongtanco.
The advisory stated that based on the results of red tide monitoring activities of BFAR and the Local Government Unit, shellfish samples gathered from Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar were already free from the red tide toxin.
Negative results for paralytic shellfish poison were obtained from three consecutive weeks of sampling in the area, the advisory stated.
Ms Canas said that gathering, harvesting and marketing of shellfishes from Matarinao Bay is now permitted.
Meanwhile, the bureau and the LGU will continuously monitor Matarinao Bay to safeguard the health of the people and to protect the shellfish industry in the area.
It may be recalled that Matarinao Bay has been positive for toxic red tides since last year and gathering, harvesting and marketing of shellfishes harvested in the area were banned by BFAR.
Matarinao Bay covers the areas of Salcedo, Quinapondan, Gen. MacArthur and Hernani towns, all in the province of Eastern Samar.
Matarinao Bay in East Samar Now Free of Toxic Red Tide
PHILIPPINES - Shellfishes harvested from Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar are now safe for human consumption as Matarinao Bay is now free of red tide toxin, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Eastern Visayas said.
by Lucy Towers
