BFAR says Sorsogon Bay, Juag Lagoon remain red tide-free

Green Mussels from Sorsogon Bay

By: Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, April 24 (PIA) – For more than two years now, shellfishes gathered from Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon remain free of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) after shellfish samples here recently taken by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) turned up negative for red tide contamination.

Shellfish Bulletin No. 09 dated April 17, 2013, BFAR said shellfish harvested from Sorsogon Bay remains safe for human consumption. The  same announcement likewise declared Juag Lagoon free from red tide-causing organism.

The bureau however has maintained its red tide alert after other samples tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison beyond safe levels at the Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Murceilagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; and Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental.

The bulletin signed by BFAR Director Atty. Asis G. Perez warned that all types of shellfish gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption. It stated, however, that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs harvested from these areas are safe to eat provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

Clams are also abundant in Sorsogon

Sorsogon Bay is surrounded by the coastal villages of Sorsogon City and the towns of Juban, Casiguran and Castilla. Seashells like halaan (clams), talaba (oysters), bamboo shells, ritob, kagot, takal, tuway (all named in Bicol term) and many more species, are abundant in the bay.

Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon is a favorite habitat of lobsters, clams, lapu-lapu, and clownfish, among others.

Fishery officials here, meanwhile, assured the public they would remain vigilant and conduct a close monitoring of the areas to ensure the safety of the public against shellfish poisoning. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)
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TAGALOG NEWS:

Sorsogon Bay nananatiling ligtas sa lason ng red tide

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, Abril 24 (PIA) – Patuloy pa ring mapapakinabangan ng mga Sorsoganon at maging ng mga dadayo dito ang biyaya ng mga lamang dagat partikular ang seashell na mula sa look ng Sorsogon.

Ito ay matapos na ipalabas ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ang pinakahuling resulta ng kanilang laboratory test na nagsasabing negatibo pa rin sa paralytic shellfish poisoning o sa kontaminasyon ng red tide ang Sorsogon Bay.

Maliban sa Sorsogon Bay, negatibo din sa nakalalasong red tide ang mga lamang-dagat mula sa Juag Lagoon sa bayan ng Matnog, Sorsogon.

Sa Shellfish Bulletin ng BFAR na may petsang Abril 17, 2013 tanging ang mga shellfish na nakolekta mula sa Dumanquillas Bay sa Zamboanga del Sur; Murcielagos Bay sa Zamboanga del Norte at Misamis Occidental; at sa Balite Bay sa Mati, Davao Oriental and siyang positibo sa nakalalasong red tide.

At upang patuloy na mapangalagaan pa rin ang seguridad at kapakanan ng publikong mahihilig sa mga lamang-dagat, patuloy pa ring pinag-iingat ng BFAR ang mga ito sa pamamagitan ng paglilinis ng mabuti ng alinmang kinakaing lamang-dagat bago ito lutuin at kainin. Dapat din umanong tiyaking hindi ito bilasa at iiwas lalo na ang mga shellfish at alimango sa pagkakabilad sa araw.

Samantala, tiniyak din ng BFAR at maging ng Office of the Provincial Agriculture – Fisheries Division ng Sorsogon na nananatiling mahigpit ang ginagawang pagsubaybay ng kanilang mga siyentista sa Sorsogon Bay at Juag Lagoon kahit pa negatibo ito sa red tide nang sa gayon ay agaran silang makapagbigay ng abiso sa publiko sakaling may makita silang mga bagong kaganapan.

Mahigit dalawang taon na ring nananatiling ligtas sa lason ng red tide ang Sorsogon Bay. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)