The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 7 (Central Visayas) has declared Siit Bay in Siaton, Negros Oriental as free from the toxic red tide.

BFAR-Negros Oriental provincial chief Florencia Mepaña told the Philippine News Agency in an interview yesterday that this was based from the results of the laboratory examination of shellfish meat collected from the bay, which was found negative for harmful red tide toxins.

“This means that shellfish in the bay area did not ingest water that tested positive for toxins that cause harmful algal blooms,” Mepaña said.

Last June 13, the BFAR-7 issued an advisory cautioning residents against collecting, consuming, and selling shellfish and “alamang” (small shrimp) from Siit Bay following laboratory results of water samples taken from the bay that tested positive for red tide-causing toxins.

The bureau earlier said water sampling results showed elevated levels of Pyrodinium bahamense, a harmful dinoflagellate that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

Despite being declared free from red tide, Mepaña said the local BFAR conducted water sampling again from the Siit Bay as a precautionary measure.

She added Bais Bay in Bais City and Tambobo Bay in Siaton remain free from red tide, but regular monitoring is undertaken, especially during the rainy season when the occurrence of red tide is more prevalent. (PNA)