The public was urged to refrain from consuming shellfish harvested from six areas of the country due to the presence of paralytic shellfish poison or the "toxic red tide." In a statement issued on Saturday, March 16, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) identified areas under toxic red tide warning as the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate, Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, San Pedro Bay in Samar, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, and San Benito in Surigao del Norte.

Espina, Z. E. (2024, March 17). DOH, BFAR issue red tide warning in 6 coastal areas. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 5.