Shellfish Ban Continues in Eastern Visayas Due to Red Tide

The Bureau of Fisheries and Fisheries Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas has maintained the shellfish ban in three coastal areas across Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran. The BFAR Regional Office 8 on Tuesday confirmed that laboratory tests showed shellfish samples from these areas continued to be positive for red tide toxins, making them unsafe for human consumption. The ban covers the harvesting, selling, and exporting of shellfish, including scallops, mussels, and other bivalves, from the affected localities. BFAR warned that these shellfish could pose health risks to consumers as long as they are contaminated with red tide toxins. BFAR said it regularly collects shellfish samples and monitors toxin levels. The ban will be lifted once safety is confirmed, but no specific timeline has been given. The red tide occurrence may impact fisherfolk in the region and the local economy that relies on these shellfish as a primary food source. Red tide contamination of shellfish is a recurring issue in the Philippines, and BFAR maintains a constant monitoring system.