June 24, 2011
Dartmouth, N.S. – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public that the harvesting of bi-valve molluscs, for recreational or commercial purposes, in Terence Bay, Prospect Bay, Shad Bay, Blind Bay, and St. Margarets Bay in Nova Scotia is closed due to an increase in levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
No person shall, in the area described in the schedule, fish for all clams, all mussels, all whelks, all oysters and Bay scallops.
Closed is the foreshore and waters of Southwest Nova Scotia, inside a line drawn from grid reference 448346 4919943 (Pennant Point, Halifax County) to grid reference 414504 4924681(Herring Point, Lunenburg County). Refer to map Lunenburg 21/A08 and Sambro 11/D05.
Note: When the boundary of an area is expressed in grid references, those grid references are based on the Universal Transverse Mercator Grid system set out on the National Topographic Series Map, Scale 1:50,000 published by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. (North American Datum 1927)
PSP results from shellfish that contain naturally occurring toxins. These toxins are derived from planktonic organisms called dinoflagellates. When the right conditions are present (water temperature, salinity, weather patterns, nutrient requirements, etc.), levels of concentration can increase.
Bivalve molluscs are shellfish with two shells, and include: oysters, clams (soft shell clams, razor clams, surf clams), scallops, mussels, and quahogs (bay and ocean) and whelks.
For further information, contact your local fishery office.
-30-
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Additional information can be found in the DFO Backgrounder, Shellfish Harvest Closures, available at:
http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communications/maritimes/back03e/B-MAR-03-(3E).html
For more information:
Communications Branch
Maritimes Region
(902) 426-3550
CommEnquire@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
NR-MAR-11-09E
