NR-PR-01-067E

July 13, 2001

VANCOUVER – Due to high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) or "red tide", Fisheries and Oceans Canada would like to remind the public not to harvest bivalve shellfish in the Lower Mainland area. The levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin are also high in numerous locations throughout the coast and those areas, including the entire North Coast (Areas 1 to 11) and select areas in the inside waters of Vancouver Island, have been closed to shellfish harvesting.

Recently, Washington State officials issued an advisory warning American residents that PSP concentrations in Whatcom County are currently on the rise in some areas and harvesting has been prohibited. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is reminding the public that B.C. coastal waters are closed to shellfish harvesting when toxin levels are too high for safe public consumption.

The waters of Howe Sound and south to the U.S. border, including the waters of Boundary Bay, Mud Bay and Semiahmoo Bay, are permanently closed to shellfish harvesting due to sewage contamination. With the addition of a PSP warning, the public is strongly urged to comply with fishing regulations and not harvest any shellfish from these areas. It is illegal to harvest shellfish from contaminated areas and eating contaminated shellfish can cause serious illness. Shellfish that has been legally commercially harvested and has been through the necessary health and safety inspections is safe to eat. Proper documentation must accompany commerically harvested shellfish.

Bivalve shellfish are shellfish with two shells (i.e.: oysters, mussels, clams, and rock-, swimming-, and weathervane-scallops). Recreational shellfish harvesters are advised to avoid butter clams in most areas, because this species can retain PSP toxins for long durations, sometimes up to a year. It is also recommended that only the adductor muscle of scallops (the round meat) should be consumed, and the roe and viscera (the digestive organs) should be discarded.

PSP is caused by a naturally-occuring algae (plankton) in coastal waters. When water temperatures rise, the amount of the algae increases in the water. As bivalve molluscs feed on this algae by filtering large volumes of water, they accummuate and concentrate the toxins. Coastal areas are regularly monitored for PSP toxin levels and closures for harvesting of bivalve molluscs are implemented when levels exceed those that are safe for human consumption. PSP toxins generally only occur in bivalve molluscs.

Bivalve harvesting closures are also implemented due to sewage contamination or dioxin levels in some areas. Information on permanent bivalve harvesting closures and dioxin/sewage contamination closures are listed in the Sport Fishing Guide. For a copy of the Guide, please call (604) 666-0384 or check the website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Shellfish closures may change frequently, therefore harvesters also are encouraged to check with local DFO offices or call (604) 666-2828 for a listing of recent closures prior to fishing.

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