RED TIDE ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED ON
21 FEBRUARY 2004
PRESS
RELEASE
A
JOINT COMMUNICATION OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES
LATEST
INFORMATION ON THE
OCCURRENCE OF RED TIDE IN WATERS OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
A
JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES, MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES STATE
THAT :-
THE
RED TIDES PHENOMENA THAT IS OCCURRING LOCALLY HAS CAUSED THE
PUBLIC TO BE RELUCTANT TO BUY AND EAT FISH.
THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND DO SURVEILLANCE TO ENSURE
THAT FISH BEING SOLD IN THE LOCAL MARKETS FREE FROM RED TIDES.
THESE
ACTIONS
INCLUDE :-
-
BANNING
THE IMPORTATION OF SMALL AND PLANKTIVOROUS FISH SUCH AS SARDINES,
MACKERALS, SHADS, ANCHOVIES, TRAVALLIES, SCADS, KIRANG-KIRANG,
DAYANG-DAYANG, PARANGIYANG, MINYAK-MINYAK AND MOLLUSCAN SHELLFISH FROM
EAST MALAYSIA WHICH HAD BEEN ENFORCED AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL
ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE AND
-
THE
PUBLIC ESPECIALLY THE FISHERMEN ARE
BANNED FROM CATCHING SMALL FISH, COLLECTING MOLLLUSCAN
SHELLFISH AND DEAD FISH FOUND AT THE AFFECTED AREAS.
WITH
FULL COOPERATION AND COMMITMENT OF THE FISHERMEN, IMPORTERS AND FISHERIES
OPERATORS IN ABIDING TO THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN AND NOT BRINGING IN,
IMPORTING OR CATCHING BANNED FISH FROM THE AFFECTED COUNTRIES AND AREAS,
THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES ENSURES
THE PUBLIC THAT BIG SIZE FISH SHOULD BE SAFE TO BE CONSUMED.
HOWEVER, AS A PRECAUTION, THE PUBLIC ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO
COMPLETELY
REMOVE THE GILLS, GUTS AND OTHER INTERNAL ORGANS OF THE FISH BEFORE
COOKING.
THE PUBLIC ARE 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 AS USUAL.
THE HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT ALSO CONFIRMS THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO
RED TIDE RELATED FOOD POISONING CASES HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE COUNTRY.
29
ZULHIJJAH 1424
21 FEBRUARY 2004
