The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has reported the expansion of toxic red tide to Ormoc Bay in Leyte and Biliran Island, following tests on collected shellfish. This development adds to the list of affected areas, which already included four other bays in the region, as detailed in Shellfish Bulletin No. 30 released on November 27. The newly affected areas join the coastal waters of Leyte, Daram Island in Samar, Zumarraga Island in Samar, and Irong-irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar.
BFAR has issued a stern warning to the public against collecting, selling, or consuming any shellfish, including small shrimp, from these contaminated zones. However, the agency assures that fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs remain safe for consumption provided they are fresh, thoroughly cleaned, and their internal organs like gills and intestines are removed prior to cooking.
The spread of red tide is believed to be influenced by unusual weather patterns in Eastern Visayas, with the dry season and sporadic heavy rains possibly causing the upwelling of shallow bays. This upwelling brings up sediment rich in red tide microorganism cysts, which then utilize the organic material in the sediment to initiate blooms.
Additionally, BFAR has detected the presence of Pyrodinium bahamense, a dinoflagellate responsible for red tide toxins, in four other bays through filtered seawater sampling. These include Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, the coastal waters of Guiuan and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, and the coastal waters of Calbayog City in Samar. In response, BFAR has issued a local shellfish advisory to prevent the public from gathering, selling, or consuming shellfish and small shrimp from these areas, aiming to avert the risk of paralytic shellfish poisoning.