Juag Lagoon in Matnog town declared free from red tide; Sorsogon Bay stays positive

Province of SORSOGON (February 8) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has lifted the shellfish ban in Juag Lagoon in Matnog town here after red tide monitoring activities for the past three consecutive weeks shows negative results on shellfish meat for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

In a advisory dated February 2, 2007, BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento announced that shellfish harvested from the said lagoon are now safe for human consumption, thus gathering and selling of shellfish from said area is now permitted.

Furthermore, BFAR is still closely monitoring Juag Lagoon to safeguard public health and to protect the shellfish industry.

Sorsogon Bay, meanwhile, remains positive on the red tide toxin based on the latest BFAR Bulletin also dated February 2.

Along with Sorsogon Bay that are still found positive on red tide toxins include coastal waters of Milagros, Masbate; coastal waters of Siaton, Negros Oriental; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga de Sur; Irong_Irong Bay in Samar; and Bislig Bay in Surigao del Sur.

BFAR warns that all types of shellfish and acetes sp. Or alamang gathered from the said areas are not safe for human consumption, thus banned for gathering ang selling.

Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs, however are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs are removed before cooking, the advisory also stated.

Sorsogon Bay has been declared positive for the red tide toxin and toxic red tide organism for almost 5 months now depriving hundreds of fishermen of their livelihood and raking up the prices of other marine resources from the bay not affected by the red tide. (Mharr Loterte, PIA Sorsogon)