Shellfish ban in the seas off Dauis town remains after ten months, along with five more bays and coastal waters across the Visayas which have been tested positive of paralytic shellfish poison beyond the regulatory limits, said fisheries director Atty Asis Perez.

As such, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warns people against harvesting , selling, buying and eating shellfish and other bottom feeders from these areas.

Other than Dauis in Bohol, also with continuing threat of paralytic shellfish poison commonly associated with red tide are the coastal waters of Daram Island in Daram, Western Samar, Cambatutay Bay also in Western Samar, coastal waters of Pilar in Capiz, Coastal waters of Naval, in Biliran Island province as well as in the coastal bays of Leyte town  in Leyte.

Atty Perez, BFAR Director through Shellfish Bulletin No. 8, series of 2016 dated March 8, 2016 said based on the latest laboratory results done by BFAR and the Local Government Units, all shellfish and acetes sp or alamang gathered from the areas listed above are not safe for human consumption.

On the other hand, fish, squids, shrimps and crabs form there may be safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly; internal organs such as gills and intestines removed before cooking, BFAR advised.

It may be recalled that in June of last year, around 12 people in Tagbilaran and Dauis areas were rushed to local hospitals after eating shellfish gathered from specific locations mentioned.

This also prompted the BFAR to conduct a study and eventual issuance of an advisory for algal bloom, which is commonly known as red tide.

Any shellfish or shrimps, bottom feeders that happen to feed on the algal bloom would tend to ingest the poison, which when eaten by man, causes paralysis, upset stomach, vomiting, nausea and disorientation, according to health authorities.

At this, local fishery authorities continue to urge people to keep off from the mentioned areas, and especially refraining from transporting what they could gather to other areas to sell.

Dauis authorities as well as BFAR Bohol Leo Bongalos, who incidentally comes from the town, have been reportedly monitoring the implementation of the BFAR shellfish ban, even as the 1 months red tide scare has rendered many shellfish gathering and trading families helpless. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)