Manila, Oct. 1 -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday confirmed the presence of toxic red tide in the coastal water of Zumarraga, Samar, based on examination by the agency's national laboratory.

This prompted BFAR to raise a shellfish ban for the seawaters of Zumarraga where collecting, selling, or eating any type of shellfish, including small shrimps, are not advised.

The coastal water, along with three other bays in the country, is now included in the national shellfish bulletin or areas with confirmed presence of red tide found through laboratory examination of shellfish meat samples.

In the region, also included in the latest national bulletin is Matarinao Bay in General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani...