• Today: October 11, 2026

Red tide persists, spreads along coastal waters

Following the detection of red tide several days ago, the phenomenon has continued to persist and has spread to coastal waters in the Belait, Tutong and Brunei-Muara districts.

According to the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, monitoring conducted by the department in collaboration with the Marine Police, Operations Department of the Royal Brunei Police Force, and the Joint Force Headquarters of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces together with laboratory analysis carried out from October 8 to 10, 2026, has confirmed that Pyrodinium bahamense, the organism responsible for red tide were found in the affected districts.

The department said the public, especially fishermen, are strictly prohibited from catching fish or collecting shellfish in the affected areas and not to take or consume fishes that are found dead in the waters of Brunei Darussalam as the fishes have high risk of being contaminated with toxins produced by the organism that caused red tide.

Exposure to these toxins can cause poisoning in humans, with symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, numbness and muscle paralysis. In severe cases, it can be fatal.

Fishermen are prohibited to catch small fishes or collect shellfish from the affected waterway in Brunei Darussalam. 

As a precautionary measure, fish sellers are also advised not to sell listed small fish, particularly those obtained from areas affected by the red tide.

Meanwhile, the public is reminded to remove all gills, stomachs and internal organs from fish before cooking and are also advised not to consume small fish whose gills, stomachs and internal organs cannot be removed, as well as shellfish collected from affected areas or from sources of unknown origin.

The public is also advised to avoid using seawater from affected areas and refrain from all water-related activities, including bathing and swimming, along the affected coastal areas until further notice.

In this regard, the Department of Fisheries will continue to monitor fish sales at wet markets to ensure that prohibited fish are not being sold. The department also emphasised that compliance with its advice and instructions is essential to protect public health and safety throughout the red tide incident

Meanwhile, the public is advised not to disseminate unverified information from unofficial sources, in order to avoid confusion and public concern. Members of the public should refer to the Department of Fisheries’ official website and social media accounts for accurate and verified information on the latest situation.

Reports and enquiries can be directed to 2770068 during office hours or the hotline at 8984526.

 

SOURCE/AUTHOR : BORNEO BULLETIN/James Kon

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