According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) the harvesting of bi-valve mollusks except scallops is still prohibited in a portion of St. Mary’s Bay. The closed portion of St. Mary’s Bay is within a line drawn from Whipple Point, Digby Neck, to the lighthouse at Cape St. Mary’s, and a line drawn from Griffin Cove to Savary Provincial Park. The authority put the prohibition due to an increase in levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP or red tide), and PSP levels are high in numerous locations along the coast.
Shellfish were contaminated and it poses health risk. With all PSP closures, the public is strongly urged to comply with fishing regulations and not harvest any shellfish from these areas. According to DFO it is illegal to harvest shellfish from contaminated areas. DFO regularly monitors closed areas to ensure compliance, and to provide enforcement when necessary.
DFO is minutely checking all the proper documentation that must accompany commercially harvested shellfish to demonstrate that it has been harvested legally and inspected appropriately. According to DFO the coastal waters are routinely monitored and are closed to shellfish harvesting when toxin levels are too high for safe public consumption.
