Cuba Libre
Well-Known Member
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0486-PSP - Bivalve Shellfish: Marine Biotoxin Advisory - Widespread Closures on the B.C. Coast due to PSP
All Areas
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is advising the public that the levels of paralytic
shellfish poisoning toxin (PSP or red tide) are high in numerous locations
throughout the coast. Many areas in the North Coast, West Coast of Vancouver
Island, and some of the Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands are now closed to
harvesting bivalve shellfish due to unacceptable or rising PSP levels.
Additionally, Washington State’s biotoxin monitoring program has detected
extremely toxic levels in areas adjacent to Canadian waters.
With all these PSP closures, 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. Cooking does not destroy the PSP toxin.
Shellfish that have been commercially harvested legally and have been through
the necessary health and safety inspections are safe to eat. Proper
documentation must accompany commercially harvested shellfish to demonstrate
that it has been harvested legally and been through the necessary inspections.
Bivalve shellfish are shellfish with two shells (such as oysters, mussels,
clams, and scallops). PSP is caused by a naturally-occurring algae (plankton)
in coastal waters. When the water temperature rises, the number of algae
increase in the water. As bivalve molluscs feed on this algae by filtering
large volumes of water, they accumulate and concentrate the toxins. PSP toxins
generally only occur in bivalve molluscs but if the levels are too high, crab
hepatopanchreas may also become toxic.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is reminding the public that B.C. coastal waters
are routinely monitored and are closed to shellfish harvesting when toxin
levels are too high for safe public consumption. However, some areas are NOT
monitored due to already existing permanent sanitary closures, mostly around
potential source of human pollution (e.g. waters adjacent to the entire lower
mainland). Information on permanent bivalve harvesting closures and PSP updates
can be found on the DFO website:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/PSP
Shellfish closures change frequently, therefore harvesters are encouraged to
check with the above website, call the local DFO office (usually in the blue
pages of the phone book), or call (toll free) 1-866-431-3474 for a listing of
current closures prior to fishing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more information contact a local DFO office, Elysha Gordon at 250-754-0229
or David Fogtmann at 250-339-3799.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0486
Sent July 2, 2010 at 13:36
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
20ft Alumaweld Intruder
Subject: FN0486-PSP - Bivalve Shellfish: Marine Biotoxin Advisory - Widespread Closures on the B.C. Coast due to PSP
All Areas
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is advising the public that the levels of paralytic
shellfish poisoning toxin (PSP or red tide) are high in numerous locations
throughout the coast. Many areas in the North Coast, West Coast of Vancouver
Island, and some of the Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands are now closed to
harvesting bivalve shellfish due to unacceptable or rising PSP levels.
Additionally, Washington State’s biotoxin monitoring program has detected
extremely toxic levels in areas adjacent to Canadian waters.
With all these PSP closures, 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. Cooking does not destroy the PSP toxin.
Shellfish that have been commercially harvested legally and have been through
the necessary health and safety inspections are safe to eat. Proper
documentation must accompany commercially harvested shellfish to demonstrate
that it has been harvested legally and been through the necessary inspections.
Bivalve shellfish are shellfish with two shells (such as oysters, mussels,
clams, and scallops). PSP is caused by a naturally-occurring algae (plankton)
in coastal waters. When the water temperature rises, the number of algae
increase in the water. As bivalve molluscs feed on this algae by filtering
large volumes of water, they accumulate and concentrate the toxins. PSP toxins
generally only occur in bivalve molluscs but if the levels are too high, crab
hepatopanchreas may also become toxic.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is reminding the public that B.C. coastal waters
are routinely monitored and are closed to shellfish harvesting when toxin
levels are too high for safe public consumption. However, some areas are NOT
monitored due to already existing permanent sanitary closures, mostly around
potential source of human pollution (e.g. waters adjacent to the entire lower
mainland). Information on permanent bivalve harvesting closures and PSP updates
can be found on the DFO website:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/PSP
Shellfish closures change frequently, therefore harvesters are encouraged to
check with the above website, call the local DFO office (usually in the blue
pages of the phone book), or call (toll free) 1-866-431-3474 for a listing of
current closures prior to fishing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more information contact a local DFO office, Elysha Gordon at 250-754-0229
or David Fogtmann at 250-339-3799.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0486
Sent July 2, 2010 at 13:36
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
20ft Alumaweld Intruder
