Calbayog City in Samar has been officially declared free of the harmful red tide after a six-month battle, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on February 12, 2025. The city’s coastal waters have shown no signs of the toxic algae for several weeks, leading to its removal from both local and national shellfish safety advisories. The city had been on the red tide alert list since July 30, 2024.
Despite this positive development, two other regions in Eastern Visayas continue to grapple with the red tide issue. The affected areas include the coastal waters of several towns in Leyte province and Matarinao Bay, which spans across General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar. These areas remain on the national shellfish bulletin due to positive tests for the toxic organism in both shellfish and seawater samples.
BFAR has issued a stern warning to the public to avoid collecting, selling, or consuming any type of shellfish and Acetes sp., known locally as alamang or hipon, from these contaminated bays to prevent health risks. However, the bureau assures that fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs are safe to eat if they are fresh, thoroughly cleaned, and their internal organs like gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
The red tide can lead to severe health issues, including paralytic shellfish poisoning, which can be fatal. The phenomenon’s recurrence in the region is attributed to the presence of red tide cysts, which can be exacerbated by frequent rains causing runoff of nutrient-rich soil sediments into the bays.
Nationwide, four bays are currently listed in the national shellfish bulletin, with two of them located in Eastern Visayas. The other two affected areas are Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and the coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay.