The coastal waters surrounding Daram Island in Samar have been declared free of the harmful red tide, according to a recent announcement by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on February 7, 2025. This development comes after consistent negative results from water samples over several weeks, leading to the removal of Daram Island from both local and national shellfish safety advisories.
Despite this positive news, red tide continues to pose a threat in three other bays within Eastern Visayas. The national shellfish bulletin has flagged the coastal waters of Leyte towns in Leyte province, as well as Matarinao Bay, which spans across General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar. These areas have tested positive for the toxic organism in both shellfish and seawater samples.
Additionally, the local shellfish bulletin has included Calbayog City in Samar due to the presence of Pyrodinium bahamense, a dinoflagellate known for producing red tide toxins. BFAR has issued a stern warning to the public to avoid collecting, selling, or consuming any type of shellfish and Acetes sp., commonly known as alamang or hipon, from these affected areas to prevent health risks.
While fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs remain safe for consumption if they are fresh, thoroughly cleaned, and their internal organs like gills and intestines are removed before cooking, the bureau emphasizes the severe risks associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning, which can be fatal.
Nationwide, the national shellfish bulletin lists four bays, two of which are in Eastern Visayas, with the other two being Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and the coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay. BFAR attributes the resurgence of red tide to the presence of red tide cysts in the region’s bays, which can be exacerbated by frequent rains causing runoff of nutrient-rich soil sediments that fertilize these cysts.