The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office disclosed on Friday that it has recorded the occurrence of the red tide phenomenon in three coastal areas in Eastern Visayas with the first occurrence recorded since February this year. The BFAR regional fisheries laboratory said that based on its examination on 14 July, shellfish meat samples collected from the coastal waters of Biliran Island; Leyte, Leyte; and Daram, Samar were found positive for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) or red tide toxin. According to BFAR regional director Juan Albaladejo, the heavy rains in the past weeks have triggered the runoff of pollutants from the upland to the sea.

Red tide invades Eastern Visayas anew. (2022, July 16). Daily Tribune, p. B15.