Fisheries and Oceans Canada has initiated a harvest prohibition for bivalve shellfish in and around Baynes Sound.
The department announced Friday the most recent marine biotoxin results were unacceptable due to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning 鈥� also known as red tide 鈥� and other marine toxins.
Check www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/contamination/index-eng.htm to see which areas are closed to bivalve shellfish, which includes oysters, scallops, clams, mussels and geoducks. Certain areas are closed to butter clams and scallops only.
PSP and sanitary contamination affect bivalve molluscs, which are shellfish with two shells. Other shellfish, such as shrimp, prawns and finfish are not affected.
Cooking does not destroy the paralytic shellfish toxin.
