OTTAWA – The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced today the launch of a new online shellfish harvesting map detailing open and closed bivalve shellfish harvesting areas in real time. This map will help Canadians make informed decisions and avoid the consumption of contaminated shellfish.
The Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP) routinely monitors the levels of marine biotoxins, bacteria and other harmful contaminants and closes bivalve shellfish harvesting areas when levels of these substances pose a health risk. This new map will allow Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to present information online on closures in a matter of minutes. Consuming shellfish, such as oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and cockles, harvested from closed or unmonitored areas can lead to serious and potentially fatal illness.
The online harvesting map enables any shellfish harvester to view a desired area to see if it is open or closed. Users are able to clearly see harvest area boundaries. The map also allows harvesters to subscribe to automatic email notifications for openings and closures in areas of interest.
The map also serves as an extension of the DFO Fisheries Notices. Updates on the opening and closing of harvesting areas will also continue to be communicated as appropriate to the public through local media, notices posted in closed areas, and information provided by local DFO offices.
This harvesting map will further support Canada's excellent reputation for safe and high-quality bivalve shellfish.
Quick Facts
- The CSSP is delivered by three federal partners: DFO, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), who work collaboratively to regularly test shellfish and harvesting areas to minimize potential risks, and to close areas when risks are identified.
- Shellfish should not be harvested from closed or unmonitored areas, including areas that are within 125 metres of a wharf, marina or aquaculture operation.
- If you are concerned about an area, please contact your local DFO office.
Quotes
"The Shellfish Harvesting Map is an online tool to help Canadians make informed decisions on where to harvest bivalve shellfish. Real-time maps like this ensure people consume safe shellfish from open harvest areas. Canada has an excellent reputation for safe and high-quality shellfish and this new harvesting map will ensure it continues."
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard.
Associated Links
Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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Source: Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada
