Puerto Princesa Bay is now free from toxic red tides after around one year of being positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.
Roberto Abrera, assistant regional director of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in an interview with Palawan Daily News (PDN) Friday, February 28, explained the contributing factors that led to the lifting of this red tide warning in Puerto Princesa Bay.
Abrera said two main factors that helped free the bay from toxic red tides are namely the summer season and the northeast monsoon or “amihan”.
He said the absence of rain in the summer season prevents the nutrients from the uplands to flow towards the sea, which can nourish the algae.
“Iyong mga nutrients from upland hindi na nake-carry doon sa coastal waters. Wala na tayo ngayong ulan. Kasi ang nagti-trigger nito ‘yong mga nutrients from the upland na nadadala ng ulan,” said Abrera.
Abrera said domestic wastes also contain nutrients that may speed-up the growth of the algae, and the absence of rain made it difficult to reach the coastal waters.
On the other hand, Abrera stated that northeast monsoon causes stronger waves in the ocean, which disrupts the concentration and accumulation of algae.
“Hindi nagkakaroon ng concentration so ito ay nadi-disperse because of continuous water movement brought about by amihan,” he added.
The notice was included in the February 21, 2020 Shellfish Bulletin No. 4 of BFAR.
Abrera said around three to four consecutive weeks were spent on testing samples collected from Puerto Princesa Bay before it was finally declared free from toxic red tides.
“Pero asahan natin na ang mga strain nito, ‘yong cease ng red tide, once kasi na nagkaroon na sa isang lugar andiyan na ‘yan [at] naghihintay lang ng mga contributing factors para ma-trigger. [Pero] so mabuti naman na na-lift na so free na tayo para sa pag-kain ng ating mga shell species at mga mollusk diyan,” said Abrera.
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