RED TIDE ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED ON
15 DECEMBER 2004
PRESS
RELEASE
A
JOINT COMMUNICATION OF
THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES
OCCURRENCE
OF RED TIDE IN WATERS OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
A
JOINT
COMMUNIQUÉ
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES, MINISTRY
OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES STATES THAT :
THE
LATEST MONITORING CARRIED OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES HAS SHOWN
THAT THE WATERS OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM ARE NOW AFFECTED WITH RED TIDE.
CURRENTLY, THE EXTENT OF AFFECTED AREAS IS ONLY IN THE WATERS OFF MUARA.
LABORATORY
ANALYSIS FROM WATER SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE AREA HAS SHOWN THAT THE CELL
CONCENTRATION OF THE RED TIDE CAUSING ORGANISMS IS MORE THAN 50,000 CELLS
PER LITRE. THIS LEVEL IS CONSIDERED TO BE TEN 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 AND PLANKTIVOROUS FISH SUCH AS SARDINES, MACKERELS, SHADS,
ANCHOVIES, TREVALLIES, SCADS, KIRANG-KIRANG, DAYANG-DAYANG, PARANGIYANG,
MINYAK-MINYAK AND MOLLUSCAN 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.
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.
MINISTRY
OF HEALTH ALSO ADVISES THE PUBLIC WHO FEELS UNWELL FOLLOWING THE
CONSUMPTION OF FISH OR SEA PRODUCTS TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RED TIDE INCLUDE HEADACHE,
DIZZINESS, NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, TINGLING SENSATION AND
NUMBNESS AROUND THE LIPS, FACE, NECK AND OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY. IN
SEVERE CASES, SPEECH MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED AS WELL AS MUSCLE PARALYSIS.
MEANWHILE,
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 8819218, 8786399
AND 8887480.
3
ZULKAEDAH 1425
15 DECEMBER 2004
