Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is strongly advising shellfish harvesters in British Columbia to check whether fishing areas are open and shellfish are safe to consume before harvesting.
“Harvesting closures can happen quickly in-season,” said Elysha Gordon of DFO’s Resource Management team. “It is essential for public health and safety that harvesters of bivalve shellfish always check to ensure that fishing areas are open and approved for harvesting prior to fishing.”
Bivalve shellfish, which have a hinged, two-part shell, and include oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and cockles, can be affected by paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), also known as “red tide,” and sanitary contamination. Eating shellfish that have been contaminated by PSP can result in serious illness or death. Cooking shellfish prior to consuming does not destroy PSP or eliminate this risk. PSP toxins generally only occur in bivalve mollusks; however, if the levels are too high, crab hepatopancreas may also become toxic.
Bivalve shellfish that are harvested in open areas and handled correctly should be safe to eat. Purchased shellfish are also safe to eat, provided they are only purchased from retailers who can confirm their source and that they were harvested from an open area. In general, shellfish that have been legally commercially harvested are safe to eat.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Campbell River Mirror-News (British Columbia, Cananda).