The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reminded the public to still refrain from collecting and consuming shellfish from waters off Tagbilaran City and Dauis as a red tide warning remained hoisted over the two localities.
Seas in Tagbilaran City and Dauis continued to test positive for paralytic shellfish poison based on Shellfish Bulletin No. 31 released by the BFAR on December 28.
“Kung mahimo, likayan nato ang pagpanguha og kinhason kay naa pay presensya sa red tide so delikado pa jud. So dili pa jud kuhaon, kan-on kay risgo man gud sa kinabuhi sa taw,” said BFAR Bohol officer-in-charge Candido Samijon.
According to Samijon, the BFAR conducts weekly tests to determine whether or not waters off both localities remain contaminated with red tide toxin.
“Once ma-lifted na [ride tide alert], ato ng ipahibaw dayon sa publiko,” said Samijon.
The official said that the prolonged ban could ultimately lead to the abundance of shellfish in the area in the future.
“Mura sa na karon og sanctuary. Mag-sige pa na sila og daghan [shellfish] so sa panahon na ma lift out ang [ban], Makita nato ang deperensya na abunda na na sila,” he added.
The red tide alert in Dauis and Tagbilaran City has been imposed since March, 2018.
In 2016, waters off both localities were listed as red tide-affected areas and were only cleared in April, 2017. (A. Doydora)