Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has closed an area near Powell River to the harvesting of shellfish.
Effective June 9, the harvesting of all bivalve mollusks, including all clams, oysters, mussels, geoducks, scallops and cockles, is prohibited in Subarea 15-5 due to unacceptable levels of PSP (paralytic shellfish poison) or red tide.
Subarea 15-5 is in the area of Lewis Channel, north of Teakerne Arm; Deer Passage; Redonda Bay; and Pryce Channel, west of Waddington Channel. Adjacent subareas in Area 13, east Vancouver Island, and 15-6, Toba Inlet, are closed to the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish as well.
Subareas 15-1 to 15-3, which includes the area from Scotch Fir Point in the south to Sarah Point in the north, are closed to butter clams and scallops only. Subarea 15-4, generally Okeover Inlet, is closed to geoducks, horse clams and butter clams only.
PSP toxins can harmfully affect anyone consuming shellfish. Cooking does not destroy the toxin.
Interested readers who need specific information about the closures can call the local DFO office at 604.485.7963 or visit DFO’s website.
