The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7 issued an advisory for the public to avoid consuming any kinds of shellfish being sold in markets due to the continued presence of the poisonous red tide toxin in Eastern Visayas.

Although Central Visayas is cleared of red tide, it has not been confirmed whether shellfish positive for the algae that produces red tide toxin have reached the region including Bohol, said Alma Saavedra BFAR 7 spokesperson.

Saavedra said that it is unlikely that their monitoring operations would be enough to keep shellfish from Samar, Leyte and other parts of the region from being sold in Bohol and the rest of region 7.

She noted that the BFAR was able to seize shellfish positive of red tide contamination from Samar which were being sold in Pasil, Cebu.

The BFAR official clarified that market vendors are not banned from selling shellfish, but the agency is urging them to declare the source of their seafood.

The red tide alert has been hoisted over Eastern Visayas since May 31, 2016.

Waters in the areas of Daram Island, Irong-Irong, Cambatutay, Villareal and Maqueda Bays in Western Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Carigara Bay and coastal waters of Leyte and Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City tested positive for red tide contamination. (Allen Doydora)