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CHAPTER 12 - SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE

ANNEX A - CRITERIA FOR SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE LEASES IN BACTERIOLOGICALLY CONTAMINATED AREAS

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1. All bivalve molluscan shellfish raised in bacteriologically contaminated areas must go through an approved depuration (controlled purification) or relay process before being marketed.

In the case of "conditionally approved" areas, shellfish may be harvested for direct marketing only when the area meets the "approved-area" status and provided that a management plan is in place. Product harvested from these areas during periods when the area does not meet "approved- area" status must be depurated or relayed.

2. No lease shall be issued within the boundaries of any closure zone around point sources of pollution (eg. pipes, streams, wharves, sewage treatment plants, marinas etc.).

3. All new lease holders in previously unused areas must go through a species-specific verification process, acceptable to DFO and DOE, for whichever purification process (depuration or relaying) is intended.

4. All lease holders must, subject to DOE and/or DFO approval, have analyses of overlay waters and/or shellstock performed by third-party laboratories in order to demonstrate that the bacteriological quality of the lease site overlay water and shellstock have not deteriorated.

Third-party laboratories performing the analyses will be subject to a DOE or DFO verification process.

5. All activities related to the harvesting and transportation of bacteriologically contaminated shellstock destined for depuration and/or relaying must be supervised and verified and carried out under conditions detailed in a management plan or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).