KALIBO, Aklan – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here and the local government unit (LGU) of Malay are implementing measures to prevent entry to Boracay Island of shellfish particularly oysters or “talaba” from the province of Capiz, after coastal waters of six areas there – the towns of Panay, Pilar, Ivisan, Sapian, and President Roxas and Roxas City turned positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or red tide.
The presence of red tide in the coastal waters of Panay and Pilar towns and Roxas City was confirmed by BFAR on Sept. 29 while Ivisan, Sapian and President Roxas towns were confirmed to have red tide on Oct. 5.
According to John Rey De Eyoy of the Fishery Protection and Law Enforcement Group of BFAR-Aklan, even before the release of Shellfish Advisories from BFAR on Sept. 29 confirming that the three areas in Capiz are positive for red tide, entry of oysters to Boracay Island had been stopped.
This is because as early as Sept. 25 when laboratory tests in Capiz showed signs of red tide, Malay LGU, through its Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO), was already alerted by BFAR-Aklan.
De Eyoy explained that BFAR-Aklan and Malay LGU have quarantine officers posted at seaports particularly at the Caticlan Jetty Port, where people bringing in food products to the island are required to present auxiliary invoices issued from the place of origin of the goods.
It was learned during the latest Provincial Local Price Coordinating Council (PLPCC) meeting here that prior to this announcement from BFAR regarding red tide affecting some areas in Capiz, some resorts in Boracay Island had been sourcing their oyster supply from Roxas City, even labeling on their menu that such oysters are from the said city.
Meanwhile, with red tide affecting coastal waters in some areas in Capiz, BFAR-Aklan will be closely monitoring coastal waters of Batan Bay in Aklan, which is shared by the municipalities of Altavas, Batan, and New Washington.
De Eyoy said when testing the coastal waters for red tide, three samples are being examined – meat sample, water, and plankton. (PIA)
