CEBU CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has ramped up its vigilance against harmful algal blooms causing red tide in the waters of Central Visayas, according to a fishery official on Friday. Crismalyn Golle, who manages BFAR-7’s Regional Fisheries Laboratory, stated that they are working closely with provincial fisheries offices and local government units to perform monthly checks on algal blooms. These blooms occur due to a sudden surge in algae numbers in the region’s seawater. Factors such as nutrient pollution, where high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage and agricultural runoff promote algae growth, and warmer water temperatures that speed up algal reproduction, often lead to these blooms. The monitoring focuses on key areas like Bogo Bay in northern Cebu, north and south Bais Bay, Tambobo Bay, and Siit Bay in Negros Oriental, as well as the waters around Dauis town and Tagbilaran City in Bohol. Siquijor province, however, is not affected and thus not included in the red tide monitoring efforts. The most recent red tide alert from BFAR-7 was for the waters of Tagbilaran and Dauis, issued on October 24 and lifted on December 19. Ongoing monitoring is crucial for the early detection and management of potential outbreaks.
