BFAR 7 Regional Fisheries Laboratory

✨📝

𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐘
November 19, 2025

This Advisory partially removes the restrictions imposed by the Local Advisory issued on October 28, 2025, as a precautionary measure to protect public health from potential risks posed by contaminated seafood.

Based on the assessment conducted by the BFAR Region VII in coordination with the BFAR - National Fisheries Laboratory Division on November 14, 2025, 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐲𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 using a three-tiered procedure to detect the presence and intensity of any molasses taint.

Moreover, water analysis conducted on November 11-12, 2025, showed that water quality parameters are within acceptable limits and that no detectable levels of coliform bacteria were found.

𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬. The entrails must be removed, and the seafood must be thoroughly rinsed under running water prior to cooking.

𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐩., 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬 "𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐠," 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐩. 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐲.

Meanwhile, fish cage operators should secure stocks, as hypoxic conditions may emerge from blooms. Further updates will follow once the algal bloom subsides and the heavy metal analysis shows levels are below thresholds.

The BFAR, in collaboration with local government units (LGUs), will continue to regularly monitor the affected areas to maintain public health standards and support the fisheries industry.

Please be guided accordingly.

(SGD) MARIO N. RUINATA
Regional Director

Yey! 🎉 We're still on cloud 9! ☁️✨️

A billion times 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 to our labmates, Maribel Sumalinog May-ido Norain and Reneir Rose Calabroso Eleccion for passing the licensure examination for Fisheries Professional!

Your RFL family is bursting with joy of this amazing milestone! 💖🤗

Be a PlastiZen! 👋✨️

𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲?
𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗲. 😞

The planet’s a mess, plastic’s everywhere, even in your feed.
But here’s the glow-up: you’re part of the fix. Get ready to be part of the solution! 🚮

We’re excited to announce PlastiZen, a DOST-PCIEERD funded project with the goal to develop a citizen science app that turns your phone into a voice for the environment. We can curb plastic pollution together through active participation by empowering you to report where unmanaged waste ends up.

Your pics aren’t just for likes, they’re receipts🧾
Receipts that call out polluters, guide cleanups, and fuel real environmental change.

Your data = your power.

The idea is simple:

👀 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝘁.
📸 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝘁.
📍 𝗧𝗮𝗴 𝗶𝘁.

See plastic litter? Take a pic. Tag the location, Boom! You turned photo into data.🗑️📲

With this data, we hope to provide a platform to drive informed decisions for clean ups and put a stop to illegal dumpsites.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 🤝📲
𝗕𝗲 𝗮 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗭𝗲𝗻! ✊

📣 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞-𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬

The DA–Bureau of Animal Industry (DA–BAI), DA–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), and DOST–National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (DOST-NCBP) are conducting a survey to assess public awareness, perceptions, and acceptance of gene-edited animals across various sectors in the Philippines.

𝗪𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸, 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲.

The insights will contribute to the development of science-based, inclusive regulations and will help shape effective communication strategies.

You may access the survey through these links or via the QR codes provided:
👉 English: https://bit.ly/GESurvey2025
👉 Filipino: https://bit.ly/GESurvey2025-1

Thank you for your participation!

Atol sa Kasaulogan sa ika-78 nga Anibersaryo sa Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, aduna kitay KADIWA NG PANGULO “Tabo sa BFAR” karong July 1, 2025 sa BFAR 7 Compound, Arellano Boulevard, Cebu City.

Nagkalain-lain usab na mga produckto ang pwede ninyong mapalit direkta mismo sa atong mga mananagat ug mag-uuma. Gikan sa preskong mga isda, gulay, prutas, ug mga value added products.

Mao kini and mga nagkalain-lain nga mga Exhibitors:

✅️Central Visayas Multi-species Nursery ✅️Demonstration and Training Center
✅️Central Visayas Agriculture Cooperative
✅️Bantayan Seafoods
✅️Pestales Agriculture Cooperative (DSWD)
✅️DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program
✅️Paylings Dried Fish Dealer
✅️Makugihong Mananagat sa Arbor (SAAD Phase II)
✅️Kapunungan sa Gagmayng Mag-uuma ug Mananagat sa Pangalaykayan (SAAD Phase II)
✅️Sta. Catalina Fish Processor Association (SAAD Phase II)
✅️Maite Resources Development Association
✅️First Consolidated Cooperative along Tañon Seaboard (DA-FCA)
✅️Cobkawa Multipurpose Cooperative (DA-FCA)
✅️Rachael N Jhundy’s Homemade Food Product
✅️Lola Carmen’s Special Chicharon
✅️Manapla P**o
✅️GRND UP Consumer Goods Trading

Atoa kining atangan isip hatag suporta sa local na mangingisada ug mag-uuma.

Unsa pa inyong gihulat? Bisitaha ang BFAR 7 Compound, ugma puhon adlawang Martes.

✨

𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐘
June 24, 2025

Based on the laboratory analysis conducted by the BFAR-National Fisheries Laboratory Division, shellfish samples collected from Siit Bay are 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞.The results of the samples analyzed using the Receptor Binding Assay method were all below the Philippine Regulatory Limit for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) of 60 µg/100 g (FAO 235 series 2010).

This advisory supersedes the local red tide warning given on June 13, 2025, as precautionary advice to safeguard human lives and mitigate impacts on the shellfish industry.

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝑨𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝐬𝐩., 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 "𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐠," 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐢𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

The BFAR and LGU will regularly monitor the abovementioned area to safeguard public health and protect the shellfish industry.

Please be guided accordingly.

(SGD)
MARIO N. RUINATA
Regional Director

𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐘
𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Based on the laboratory analysis conducted by the BFAR 7-Negros Oriental Provincial Fishery Office and PLGU Negros Oriental -Provincial Agriculturist Office, water samples collected on June 10, 2025 from Siit Bay in Siaton, Negros Oriental, were screened POSITIVE for the presence of 𝘗𝘺𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.

To protect human lives and lessen the effects on the shellfish industry while awaiting the results of the confirmatory analysis, this WARNING is issued as a precautionary measure advising the public to avoid gathering, selling, and consuming all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. locally known as "alamang" from Siit Bay.

Fish, squid, crab, and shrimp are safe to eat as long as all entrails are removed and washed thoroughly under running water before consumption.

The BFAR and LGU are committed to continuously monitoring the abovementioned area to safeguard public health and protect the shellfish industry.

Your cooperation in following this advisory is crucial. Please be guided accordingly.

Signed:

MARIO N. RUINATA
Regional Director, BFAR7

Happy Birthday, Maribel!🎂 Wishing you a fabulous day filled with joy and success. May your dedication and hard work continue to thrive.

Enjoy your special day!❣️

Warmest greetings from your BFAR 7- RFL family.💕

From the women at the Regional Fisheries Laboratory, Happy International Women's Day!

We celebrate the remarkable accomplishments and contributions of women in science and beyond. 💗👩‍🔬

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙚!🎉👏

Your RFL family is very proud of you. 💟 We know that you’ll be a great addition sa mga 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑚𝑎 for a sustainable fisheries sector!✨

God bless you!