Belait Now Faces Red Tide Menace

Bandar Seri Begawan - The toxic red tide phenomenon, which was recently reported to have reached the waters of Seria, have now extended to the waters of Belait and the Brunei Bay up to Pulau Berambang.

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources announced this in a statement yesterday.

The statement said through the latest monitoring carried out by the Department of Fisheries using boats and aerial surveillance with the assistance of the Air Force of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces using helicopters has shown the spread of the toxic red tide into, Belait waters.

The public is advised that a ban is now in force against catching and harvesting

of small fish and shellfish as well as collecting dead fish from the waters of Muara up to Belait and the Brunei Bay up to Pulau Berambang.

A related statement jointly issued by the Department of health Services and Department of Fisheries added that a ban is also in force on the importation of small and planktivorous fish such as sardines, mackerels, shads, anchovies, travellies, scads, kirang-kirang, dayang-dayang, parangiyang, minyak-minyak and molluscan shellfish from East Malaysia which had been enforced and will continue until further notice.

The full co-operation and commitment of fishermen, importers and fisheries operators were called on to abide by the directives given. The statement also noted that red tide phenomenon has caused the public to be reluctant to buy and eat fish.

The Department of Fisheries ensures the public that big fish should be safe for consumption.

However as a precautionary measure, the public is strongly advised to completely remove the gills, guts and other internal organs of the fish before cooking. The public is also advised not to consume fish and shellfish of unknown origin, it added.

The statement further said that by following he advice and directions given, the public should not have any doubt to continue consuming big fish, shrimps, crabs and other seafood as usual.

The Health Services Department also confirms that there has been no toxic red tide related food poisoning cases reported in he country. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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