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Red Tide To Remain A Menace For Next Four Months February 22, 2004, Brunei
Kuala Belait - Red tide will continue to be a menace to Brunei waters for the next three to four months.
The Fisheries Department made this prediction yesterday even as red tide spread to the waters of Belait and the Brunei Bay up to Pulau Berambang.
The latest assessment prompted the department to once again ban the public, especially fishermen from catching and harvesting small fish and shellfish as well as collecting any dead fish from the waters of Muara up to Belait and the Brunei Bay up to Pulau Berambang.
Awang Jumat Haji Bandol, Fishery Officer-in-charge of Belait, Tutong and Temburong Districts disclosed this latest assessment on the red tide situation as a briefing in the Belait District yesterday.
The Fisheries Department is holding a series of briefings in its efforts to give the public the latest information on the red tide phenomenon.
The department yesterday briefed penghulus, ketua kampongs and government officers in the Belait District on the current situation.
Awang Sabri Hj Mohd Taha, Acting Deputy Director of Fisheries Department, said the worst affected areas are the waters off Danau in the Tutong District.
He stressed on the importance of cooperation from penghulus and ketua kampongs in assisting the department in informing the public on red tide and in reporting related incidents to the authorities.
According to him, the department has distributed pamphlets as guidance to members of the public on matters related to red tides phenomena.
Meanwhile, demands for fish have dropped sharply as fears of infected fish are growing in the wake of the red tide occurrence in the country.
In an effort to boost public's confidence, the Fisheries Department gave its assurance that monitoring efforts are taken continuously towards ensuring that several kinds of fish being sold in the country are free from red tide.
The Health Services Department confirms that no red tide related food poisoning cases have been reported in the country.
The Fisheries Department said actions being taken include banning of importation of small fish and planktivorous fish and molluscan shellfish from East Malaysia and banning of local fishermen from catching small fish, collecting molluscan shellfish and dead fish found at the affected areas.
Fishermen, importers and fisheries operators are also urged to give their full cooperation by not importing or catching banned fish from affected countries or areas.
The department also assures the public that big-sized fish is safe for consumption.
As a precaution, however, the public is strongly advised to completely remove 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.
By following the advice and directions given, the public should not have any doubt to continue consuming big fish, shrimps, crabs and other seafood. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei
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