But sale of shellfish is down

THERE is no red tide in Lingayen Gulf but the red tide scare arising from deaths in the southern part of Luzon has spilled over to the shellfish industry in the north, affecting thousands of producers, traders and vendors in the coastal towns of Pangasinan.

The recent death of a family in Laguna due to paralytic shellfish poisoning has raised alarms among consumers.

Gemma Quinto, mother of 6 from barangay Lucao in Dagupan City, said sales of oysters and other shellfish dipped the past days because people are afraid that local oysters, mussels, kampis and others similar products may have been affected by red tide.

Quinto said they are currently sourcing their goods from Bolinao, which has not been affected by the red tide.

Red tide is caused by algal bloom in the water and affects shellfish.

Quinto said she and her family are eating the oysters that they are unable to sell, proof that these are safe for consumption.

Gilda Solano, 35, another vendor, shared the same sentiment. The oysters she sells are coming from Alaminos City, delivered daily by a bus that goes to Dagupan City from Western Pangasinan.

“We used to enjoy brisk sales of oysters on weekend because of the big number of tourists on their way back to Manila from the western part of the province,” she said.

The two vendors have called on the government to help them explain to the people through an information campaign that the Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan is not affected by the red tide problem occurring in the southern part of the island. — LM

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