Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR)

January 22, 2019 Dear Fatima Mae, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated May 16, 2018 11:37:35 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for Red Tide Monitoring. Response to Request This is to formally acknowledge your request for information from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. We would like to apologize for not promptly responding to your request.. This is due to some technical gaps we have encountered in securing access to the FOI portal. It is only now that we have been able to access the pending requests sent through the portal Please rest assured however that we have already initiated measures to address the cause of delay and improve further our services. With regards to your request, for your first question regarding the standard protocol: when shellfish toxicity exceeds the regulatory level (60 micrograms STXeq/100grams of shellfish meat), BFAR Director issues shellfish advisory, which declares shellfish ban in red tide affected areas. During shellfish ban, harvesting, marketing and consumption of shellfish are prohibited. Concerned LGUs and government agencies coordinate and collaborate in the implementation of the ban thus preventing contaminated shellfish from reaching the market. When blooms subside, shellfish purify themselves of the toxin, and when testing indicates a return to safe levels, the areas are reopened. BFAR Director also issues bimonthly Shellfish Bulletin, which provides information on the status of the coastal waters of the country with regards to toxic red tide. For your second question: Philippine Regulatory limit for PSP is 60 micrograms STXeq/100grams of shellfish meat (FAO 235 series 2010). Thank you! Respectfully, FOI Decision Maker FOI Receiving Officer