Zumarraga: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has confirmed the presence of toxic red tide in the coastal waters of Zumarraga, Samar. In response, a local red tide warning has been issued, advising the public against collecting, selling, or consuming any shellfish, including small shrimps, from the area.

According to Philippines News Agency, the coastal waters of Zumarraga will soon be added to the national shellfish bulletin, which lists areas with confirmed red tide presence based on laboratory tests of shellfish meat samples. The latest national bulletin also includes Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, affecting the towns of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo, where both shellfish and seawater samples have tested positive for red tide.

Previously, local red tide warnings were issued for Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City and Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar. Seawater samples from these locations have shown the presence of toxins, although fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs from these areas are deemed safe for consumption if they are fresh, thoroughly washed, and cooked after removing internal organs.

BFAR has emphasized the importance of public safety by advising against the gathering, selling, and consumption of all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., commonly known as alamang or hipon, from the affected bays. The seawater condition in these areas poses risks of paralytic shellfish poisoning, which can be fatal.

Nationwide, only three bays are currently listed in the national shellfish bulletin. Besides Zumarraga, these include Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and the coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay. BFAR attributes the recurrence of red tide to the presence of red tide cysts in regional bays, exacerbated by frequent rains causing soil sediment runoff rich in organic matter, which facilitates the growth of red tide cysts.