One of the main occupations in Palawan is farming or fishing. The province of Palawan has mountain areas as well as rich marine life.

In the latest news, the red tide in Inner Malampaya Sound is still active. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said that the results in the laboratory shows that it is still affected by the red tide toxins. The red tide toxins are harmful in animals and humans. It can cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP), Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, Ciguatera Fish Poisoning, and Possible Estuarine Associated Syndrome. These toxins attack the neurological system. The BFAR stated that Acetes sibogae (Alamang) and all types of shellfishes must be avoided in this area.

Aside from Taytay, there are also other sea waters in the Philippines that has red tides including Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; Coastal waters Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Tambobo Bay, Sianton in Negros Oriental; Coastal waters of Daram Island, Zumarraga, San Pedro, and Cambatutay in Western Samar; Coastal waters of Calubian, Leyte, Carigara Bay, and Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; Coastal waters of Biliran Islands; Coastal waters of Guiuan and Matarimao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Balite Bay, Mati City in Davao Oriental; and Lianga bay and Coastal waters of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur.

The red tide in Palawan started last year, 2020. It affected the waters in Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa Bay, and the Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay. The Honda Bay and Puerto Princesa Bay’s laboratory has no presence of the toxins, BFAR announced on February 8.

What is the Red Tide?

Red tide is caused by the high population of dinoflagellates that could give reddish color to the sea water. Sometimes, red tide occurs even if there is no visible red coloration. The dinoflagellates are small organisms that are single-celled eukaryotes and considered as an algae.

What are Red Tide Blooms?

It is a condition of seawaters to have higher salinity, temperature, flow, movement of waters, and nutrients can cause red tide blooms. The researchers say that the increasing amount of nutrients in the water such as phosphorus, phosphate, nitrate, and nitrite can multiply the amount or the populations of dinoflagellates. The sudden heavy rain after a long hot weather also affects the movement of algae.

Red tides affect not only marine lives such as some fishes and others can be poisoned but also the humans that will consume the shellfishes and fishes. This also gives a negative effect on the fishermen who rely on fishing as their daily income source and tourists might turn their backs on visiting the beach areas. Swimming on beaches that have a red tide is not advisable. The water might irritate the skin and eyes or give a burning sensation.

The local governments implement rules and regulations during these times to prevent residents being poisoned and widespread.