PIA Press Release
Tuesday, January 10, 2012

“Alamang” from Murcielagos Bay, Mis. Occ. is still unsafe to eat –-BFAR

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- All types of shellfish and “alamang”” or shrimp paste, commonly called “uyap” or “uyabang” gathered from Murcielagos Bay at the boundary of Misamis Occidental in region 10 and Zamboanga del Norte, region 9, are still unsafe for human consumption.

This warning was noted in Shellfish Bulletin No. 1, series of 2012, of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), after the latest laboratory results showed that the shellfish collected in the area are positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

The public is advised “not to harvest, not to eat, not to sell and not to buy them,” Atty. Asis G. Perez, Director of BFAR, said.

The same warning was issued by BFAR last November after shellfish gathered from the bay tested positive of the red tide toxin.

However, fish, squids, shrimps and crabs gathered from the area are safe to eat provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking, Perez said.

Also unsafe to eat are the shellfish collected in the following areas: Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar and Masinloc Bay in Zambales.

Meanwhile, BFAR said the following coastal waters are free from toxic red tides thus, shellfish gathered from these areas are safe to eat:

Mindanao: Taguines Lagoon in Benoni, Mahinog, Camiguin Island, Hinatuan, Bislig and Lianga Bays in Surigao del Sur and Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental.

Visayas: Pilar, President Roxas, Pontevedra, Panay, Roxas City, Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz, E.B. Magalona, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Villadolid, Talisay City, Silay City, Bacolod City and San Enrique in Negros Occidental.

Irong-irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar, Ormoc, San Pedro, Cancabato and Carigara Bays in Leyte, Biliran Waters in Biliran Province.

Luzon: Cavite, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Navotas, Bulacan in Manila Bay, Bolinao, Alaminos and Bani in Pangasinan.

Milagros and Mandaon Bays in Masbate, Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, Honda and Puerto Bays and in Puerto Princesa City and Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Palawan. (PIA-10 Mis.Occ.)