Elvira C. Bongosia
TAGBILARAN
CITY, November 22 (PIA)
--The coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City tested positive again
for algae that produces the red tide toxin, according to the regional office of
the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7).
The advisory was relayed to the Bohol media on
Saturday by BFAR-Bohol Information Officer Nimfa Mesina.
The BFAR bulletin said that the coastal waters
of Dauis and Tagbilaran City tested positive for red tide toxin.
Gathering and selling shellfish from Dauis and
Tagbilaran City sea waters are banned until further notice because they are
still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.
It was only in March this year that the longest
red tide alert in the province had been lifted by the bureau.
A similar red tide advisory covering Dauis
and Tagbilaran areas ran from June last year to March this year.
However, BFAR-Bohol continued to warn local
governments of Dauis and Tagbilaran City to remain vigilant and continue
monitoring the coastal areas to make sure any resurgence of red tide toxins
would be promptly acted upon.
By mid-October this year, BFAR-7 already warned
Bohol consumers of the possible resurgence of red tide.
Red tide is the common term for harmful algal
blooms, specifically when colonies of algae grow out of control and produce
toxic or harmful effects on shellfish and other marine animals.
(rmn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)