THE CITY Veterinarian’s Office said Tuesday that selling green mussels or tahong in city markets is still banned unless the confirmatory test results prove to be negative.
The statement came on the heels of the latest bulletin from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources XI declaring Villareal, Samar is now negative for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.
Villareal, Samar is the largest distributor of tahong in all city public markets, shipping about 2,000 kilos at a time.
Cory Sepulveda, OIC City Vet, said during Madayaw Davao Tuesday episode that the office continues to subject every tahong from Samar to Bio-assay testing.
“Ang ating laboratory ay magtetest ng Mouse Bioassay para malaman po natin kung ito ay negative or safe for consumption,” she said.
According to Shellfish Bulletin No. 23 issued on September 16, shellfishes collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; coastal waters of Daram Island, Zumarraga Island, Irong-Irong Bay, Cambatutay Bay in Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Carigara Bay in Leyte; and coastal waters of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay Province; and Maqueda Bay in Samar are still positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.
All types of shellfish and 𝑨𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒑. or alamang gathered from the areas mentioned are unsafe for human consumption.
Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption as long as they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs are removed prior to cooking.
Puerto Princesa Bay in Palawan and the coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte which were previously found PSP positive are now free from toxic red tide.
Meanwhile, bays in Davao Region remain free from the red tide. This includes Balite, and Pujada Bays in Mati, Davao Oriental; Tagabuli Bay, Davao del Sur; Malalag Bay in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur.
