RED TIDE ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED ON
15 FEBRUARY 2004
PRESS
RELEASE
A
COMMUNICATION OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES
OCCURRENCE
OF RED TIDE IN WATERS OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
A COMMINIQUÉ ISSUED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES, MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES STATES THAT :
THE
LATEST MONITORING CARRIED OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES USING BOATS AND
AERIAL SURVEILLANCE USING HELICOPTER HAS SHOWN THAT THE WATERS OF BRUNEI
DARUSSALAM ARE NOW AFFECTED WITH RED TIDE. CURRENTLY, THE EXTENT OF
AFFECTED AREAS SPREAD FROM THE WATERS OFF MUARA TO JERUDONG.
LABORATORY
ANALYSIS FROM WATER SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE AREA HAS SHOWN THAT THE CELL
CONCENTRATION OF THE RED TIDE CAUSING ORGANISMS IS MORE THAN 30,000 CELLS
PER LITRE. THIS LEVEL IS CONSIDERED TO BE SIX TIMES MORE POTENT THAN THE
LEVEL THAT CAN CAUSE DEATH TO THOSE WHO CONSUME FISH OR SHELLFISH
CONTAMINATED WITH RED TIDE.
THE
PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY FISHERMEN, IS BANNED FROM CATCHING AND HARVESTING OF
SMALL FISH AND SHELLFISH AS WELL AS COLLECTING DEAD FISH FROM AFFECTED
WATERS. THE PUBLIC IS ALSO ADVISED TO ABSTAIN FROM EATING FISH AND
SHELLFISH OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN. AS AN ADDED PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, THE PUBLIC
IS ADVISED TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE GUTS, GILLS AND OTHER INTERNAL ORGANS
OF FISH BEFORE COOKING.
IN
VIEW OF THE OCCURRENCES OF RED TIDE STILL AFFECTING THE WATERS OF SABAH
AND LABUAN, THE BAN ON THE IMPORTATION OF SMALL AND PLANKTIVOROUS FISH
SUCH AS SARDINES, MACKERELS, SHADS, ANCHOVIES, TREVALLIES, SCADS,
KIRANG-KIRANG, DAYANG-DAYANG, PARANGIYANG, MINYAK-MINYAK AND MOLLUSCAN
SHELLFISH FROM EAST MALAYSIA IS STILL BEING ENFORCED.
DURING
THE CURRENT SITUATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE
THE PUBLIC NOT TO BE ALARMED AS STEPS UNDER THE NATIONAL RED TIDE
ACTION PLAN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED AND RED TIDE MONITORING ACTIVITIES ARE
CONTINUOUSLY BEING INTENSIFIED.
THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES WILL KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED OF THE CURRENT
SITUATION FROM TIME TO TIME. THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE FISHERMEN, CAN
ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT IN REPORTING ANY WATER DISCOLOURATION AND TO REPORT
ANY MASS FISH MORTALITIES IN OUR WATERS OR BEACHES AT THE FOLLOWING
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
8780346, 8877403 AND 8887480.
23
ZULHIJJAH 1424
15 FEBRUARY 2004
