Catching up a storm: An angler casting a fishing line on the shore of Tanjung Lipat Lekas in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. — Bernama
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government, through the Fisheries Department, has taken several measures to temporarily ban the harvesting, sale and consumption of shellfish from certain regions in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said this came following the discovery of red tide algae in several coastal waters around Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran recently.
He said the Sabah Fisheries Department (SFD) had issued a Red Tide Explosion Warning Notice in the area, indicating that a red tide explosion was currently happening in Kota Kinabalu waters and it was expected to spread to the waters around Tuaran.
“The public is also advised to refrain from swimming in the waters around Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran until further notice. The government is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as necessary,” Kitingan said in a statement yesterday.
He said while the red tide phenomenon was a natural occurrence – exacerbated by factors such as climate change and human activities such as pollution and over-fishing – there were health and environmental risks too.
“It is important for the public to be aware of the risks associated with red tides and to take the necessary precautions to protect their health and the environment,” he said.
The red tide phenomenon, which is caused by an increase in the population of Margalefidinium polykrikoides (Cochlodium) and Pyrodinium bahamense algae, could produce harmful toxins that affect marine life and human health, Kitingan said.
He said while Margalefidinium polykrikoides algae was not harmful to humans, it was dangerous to fish, especially those raised in cages.
A red tide explosion with a high cell density in such conditions could cause high fish mortality, thus causing huge losses to fish farmers.
On the other hand, Pyrodinium bahamense algae posed a danger to humans, with the toxins produced accumulating in shellfish such as cockles, clams, mussels and oysters that when consumed by humans can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), he said.
Kitingan said the symptoms of PSP included tingling, numbness and burning sensations in the mouth, lips and tongue, followed by headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory paralysis, coma and even death.
He explained that the presence of Margalefidinium polykrikoides and Pyrodinium bahamense algae was identified through water samples taken at several sports locations around Kota Kinabalu and other areas on Feb 16.
“Red tide blooms often occur in the west coast Sabah waters, especially from Sipitang, Kuala Penyu to Tuaran or Kota Belud,” he said.
Red tide occurrences in east coast Sabah waters were rare and had not been reported for more than 20 years, he added.
He said the density rate of cells per litre for each sample was different at each location and the danger threshold was considered when the number of cells exceeded 2,000 per litre for Margalefidinium polykri-koides algae and 800 per litre for Pyrodinium bahamense algae.
“Therefore, the public is advised not to consume any shellfish from the affected areas until further notice,” he warned.
The SFD, in the meantime, has also issued a warning advising the public not to consume shellfish from Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran waters.
Its director Azhar Kassim said its Biosecurity Department found Pyrodinium bahamense and Margalefidinium polykrikoides cells in one litre of samples that exceeded the danger level.
“The cells spread fast and have reached Sutera Harbour and the Jesselton Jetty waters, Likas Bay and Gaya islands, with the highest reading coming from near the Sabah International Convention Centre,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday.
The Labuan Fisheries Department echoed the call and reminded the people on the duty-free island to avoid consuming shellfish from mainland Sabah with immediate effect.
In April 2015, Labuan reported two cases of PSP involving two local fishermen from Kampung Sungai Miri following a red tide phenomenon in the waters off the island.
