RED TIDE. The coastal waters of Daram, Samar, in this file photo. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) confirmed the presence of toxic red tide in the coastal waters of Daram after testing conducted by the agency’s national laboratory. (Photo courtesy of Daram LGU)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday confirmed the presence of toxic red tide in the coastal waters of Daram, Samar, based on an examination by the agency’s national laboratory.
This prompted BFAR to raise a shellfish ban for the seawaters of Daram town, where collecting, selling, or eating any type of shellfish, including small shrimps, is not advised.
The coastal water, together with four other bays in the country, is now listed in the national shellfish bulletin or identified as areas with confirmed red tide presence through laboratory tests of shellfish meat samples.
Earlier, a shellfish ban was imposed in Matarinao Bay in General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo, all in Eastern Samar, after both shellfish and seawater samples from the area tested positive for red tide.
Fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs collected in these areas are safe to eat, provided they are fresh, properly washed, and their internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
“To safeguard human lives, we are advising the public to refrain from gathering, selling and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang or hipon, from these bays,” BFAR said in its shellfish bulletin.
The seawater condition can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning and death, the agency further warned.
Other bays listed in the national shellfish bulletin include Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda in Pangasinan, and Tantangan Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay.
BFAR said red tide cysts reoccur due to frequent rains causing runoff of organic-rich sediments that fertilize the cysts. (PNA)