Fishery Notice

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recommends a precautionary emergency vessel closure for bivalve shellfish be put into effect, as outlined below, as a result of the presence of occupied live-aboard vessels anchored and or moored in the Deep Bay area, Subarea 14-8.

The overboard discharge of untreated black and or grey water poses an unacceptable risk to water quality. Given that overlay waters are a pathway by which pathogenic micro-organisms and other contaminants may be introduced into bivalve shellfish, ECCC concludes that a risk to public health may exist if bivalve shellfish in the area are harvested for consumption.

In accordance with Section 6.2 of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program manual, ECCC recommends that the following area be placed immediately in Closed Status under Emergency Closure 14.ao to prevent the harvesting of potentially contaminated bivalve shellfish.

Precautionary Emergency Vessel Closure 14.ao -

The waters and intertidal foreshore of that portion of Subarea 14-8 inside a line commencing at Mapleguard Point, Deep Bay at 49°27.940' N 124°44.169' W northwesterly to a point in water at 49°28.218' N 124°46.165' W thence southwesterly to a point in water at 49°28.200' N 124°46.183' W thence southeasterly to a point in water at 49°28.177' N 124°46.132' W thence southwesterly to a point in water at 49°28.124' N 124°46.165' W thence westerly to a point in water at 49°28.129' N 124°46.279' W thence southwesterly to a point on land at 49°28.075' N 124°46.353' W thence southerly following the high tide mark back to the point of commencement; including BC Land Registry Aquaculture Tenures #0278744, #0278742, #0278741, #0278740, #1414396, #0319716, #1414456, #1414457, #1400483, #1411206, #1407063, #1408485, #0278739, #0278737, #1403139, #0278734, #1411153 and #1411195. [NAD83]

This closure shall remain in effect for the period of time in which occupied live aboard vessels remain anchored or moored in the Deep Bay area. At which time these conditions have changed, ECCC will advise the Pacific Region Interdepartmental Shellfish Committee (PRISC) if changes in the status of the emergency closure are warranted.

Note that this notice does not describe other sanitary closures which may be in effect, or Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP, red tide) and other marine biotoxin closures.

Detailed bivalve shellfish closure information and maps are available at our website: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/shellfish-mollusques/contamination/index-eng.html and at local DFO offices.

For more information contact a local DFO office or DFO.PACCSSP-PCAMPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0205
Sent March 6, 2023 at 1327

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 21, 2026 at 0138