By Othel V. Campos

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources bureau yesterday warned the public not to eat any types of shellfish from Sorsogon, Masbate and Zamboanga del Sur?areas threatened by red tide blooms.

According to the bureau, marine organisms have accumulated high levels of toxin from the microscopic dinoflagellate known as Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum which causes the red tide blooms.

Fisheries director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. reiterated that harvesting and trading of contaminated shellfish are banned in these areas until such time the toxin levels in the organisms go down to acceptable range.

The recent spate of illnesses and deaths from red tide poisoning in Albay and nearby provinces could easily be prevented if only the ban would be strictly enforced and the consumers would heed the bulletins regularly released by the bureau.

?Sadly, there is no way for the public to detect red tide-contaminated shellfish; the local government must seriously impose the ban on shellfish gathering in areas where red tide blooms are detected,? Sarmiento stressed.

Under the Fisheries Code of 1998, local government units are tasked to enforce fishery laws and ordinances, he said.

According to Sarmiento, toxic blooms in certain coastal waters of the country have been recurring for the past three decades and Sorsogon and Juan Lagoon are among the primary areas under tight watch. Water and shellfish in these areas are being tested regularly, he said.

Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe to eat provided that these are fresh; the gills, intestines and other internal organs are removed; and thoroughly washed before cooking.

Areas free from toxic red tide are the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Pi?as, Para?aque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay; coastal waters of Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao and Wawa in Bani, Pangasinan; and Masinloc Bay in Zambales.