Large portions of shellfish harvesting areas in the Maritimes are closed after the heavy rainfall which accompanied Dorian over the weekend, said Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Region, on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Coastal areas of P.E.I., Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are affected.
The closures are in effect for a minimum of seven days and are in addition to closures already in place.
Tests will be conducted to determine when these areas can be reopened to fishing.
For information on real-time opening and closures in shellfish fishing areas, subscribe to the interactive map from Fisheries and Oceans Canada: https://inter-w01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Geocortex/Essentials/Viewer/Index.html?viewer=CSSP_Public_En_Site
New closures in effect in the Gulf region:
Closures in Prince Edward Island:
- All waters within three kilometres of the coast including all islands in Prince County in the province of Prince Edward Island.
- All waters within three kilometres of the coast including all islands in Northumberland Strait in a portion of Queens County in the province of Prince Edward Island from the Prince County border at Wrights Point near Victoria to Duchess Point in Charlottetown.
Closures in New Brunswick:
- All waters within three kilometres of the coast including all islands in the northeast and east of the province of New Brunswick from a point near Maisonnette to the Nova Scotia border.
Closures in Nova Scotia:
- All waters within three kilometres of the coast including all islands in Northumberland Strait in portions of Cumberland, Colchester and Pictou Counties, Nova Scotia, from Lewis Head near the mouth of the Philip River to Cape John.
Eating contaminated shellfish can lead to serious illness or even death. These closures are established to protect fishers and the public.
Cooking shellfish does not destroy the toxins that may be present in a closed area.
For more information on the dangers of collecting contaminated shellfish, please visit:http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/shellfish-mollusques/ihs-rim-eng.htm
