The shellfish ban is still in effect within Puerto Princesa Bay, due to the presence of red tide toxin in the bay based on the recent issuance of the Shellfish Bulletin No. 22 issued on August 30, 2024 by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Officer in Charge Isidro Mozo Velayo Jr.
The BFAR and the local authorities here has detected presence of red tide toxins in Puerto Princesa Bay and advised the public to refrain from gathering, selling and eating shellfishes since the area is positive for the deadly Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP).
Eating toxic shellfish can bring on severe stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting and even death, within hours. Shell fish species when there are presence of red tide toxins cause poisoning in coastal areas, due to the deadly toxins they imbibe from Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The blooms are made up of millions of microscopic two-tailed algae called dinoflagellates, which when present in dense quantities, appear as clouds of red in the sea. The phenomenon is called “red tide’. The reddish colors come from some dinoflagellates that have photosynthetic pigments ranging from brown to red.
The appearance of HABs is linked to several factors. The main one is the availability of nutrients like iron, nitrogen and phosphorous from sewage, agricultural wastes and other waste that are pumped into the sea from various sources.
In a Memorandum Order No. 287 issued by the Office of the City Mayor, signed by authority of the City Mayor by City Administrator, Atty. Arnel Pedrosa said that due to the presence of red tide, the local authority bans the gathering, transporting, marketing and consumption of all types of shellfish and acetes species or alamang harvested from Puerto Princesa Bay.
Puerto Princesa Bay covers 19 barangays of this city. This include Bancao-Bancao, Bagong Sikat, Bagong Silang, Pagkakaisa, Mabuhay, Liwanag, Bagong Pag-asa, San Isidro, Matahimik, Mandaragat, Abanico in San Pedro, Tiniguiban, Sta. Monica, Sicsican, Irawan, Iwahig, Sta. Lucia, Luzviminda and Mandaragat.
The Memo clarified that shellfishes harvested outside Puerto Princesa Bay can be sold provided that they have a certificate of origin, attesting that they are sourced in coastal areas free from red tide.
“Shellfish and acetes species or alamang harvested from other coastal areas are allowed to be sold in Puerto Princesa City provided that they have a Certificate of Origin from the Punong Barangay or Municipal Agriculturist, certifying that products are harvested from their respective coastal areas free from red tide toxin”, the Memo reads.
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