RED TIDE ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED ON
25 FEBRUARY 2004
PRESS
RELEASE
A
COMMUNICATION OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES
LATEST
INFORMATION ON THE
OCCURRENCE OF RED TIDE IN WATERS OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
A COMMINIQUE 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 WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE AIR FORCE OF THE ROYAL
BRUNEI ARMED FORCES HAS SHOWN THAT THE
RED TIDE IS STILL AFFECTING THE WATERS FROM MUARA TO BELAIT AND THE BRUNEI
BAY.
LABORATORY
ANALYSES FROM WATER SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE AREAS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE CELLS
CONCENTRATIONS OF THE RED TIDE ARE STILL MORE THAN THE LEVELS CONSIDERED
DANGEROUS THAT CAN CAUSE DEATH TO THOSE WHO CONSUME FISH OR
SHELLFISH CONTAMINATED WITH RED TIDE.
IN
VIEW OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES IS STILL BANNING
THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY FISHERMEN, FROM CATCHING
AND HARVESTING OF SMALL FISH AND SHELLFISH AS WELL AS
COLLECTING DEAD FISH AND SHELLFISH FROM THE AFFECTED AREAS.
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 BIG SIZE
FISH BEFORE COOKING.
THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES IS ALSO STILL BANNING 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.
THE
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES WILL KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED OF THE CURRENT
SITUATION FROM TIME TO TIME.
04
MUHARRAM 1424
25 FEBRUARY 2004
