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APPENDIX VIII
PROTOCOL FOR EMERGENCY CLOSURE OF ANY SHELLFISH GROWING AREA

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A notification system must be in place to allow DFO to react quickly to close a shellfish growing area that may be affected by an emergency situation such as spill of deleterious substances*.

1. The notification process should require the reporting agency to advise the representatives of shellfish control agencies (DFO, EC, CFIA and appropriate provincial department(s)) in the event of an emergency situation involving a spill of deleterious substances* into a shellfish growing area.
2. During normal working hours, upon notification of the emergency situation, EC will advise DFO if there is a need to implement an emergency closure in the affected shellfish growing area.
3. Outside normal working hours, upon notification of the emergency situation, DFO shall immediately close the affected shellfish growing area as a precautionary measure until further notice from EC and/or CFIA.
4. EC and/or CFIA will advise DFO if there is a need to rescind or modify the size of the precautionary shellfish closure upon receiving more detailed information from the reporting agency. DFO will modify the closure accordingly.
5. The closure will remain in place for at least 7 days. At this time, EC and/or CFIA will evaluate the situation and advise DFO on the status of the closure, as well as a plan for continued evaluation. Once the bacteriological and chemical quality of the water and shellstock is satisfactory, CFIA and EC will advise DFO to reopen the area and notify the provinces of their findings and any further follow-up.

* "deleterious substance" as defined under the Fisheries Act, Section 34 (1).