The Westerly News
Sept. 17, 2003
Shellfish farms
in Barkley Sound may be affected by a two-month harvest closure due to
fecal contamination. Water quality monitoring undertaken by Environment
Canada in Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds has detected contamination concerns
in several locations.
Seasonal closures in Barkley Sound will affect parts of Useless Inlet, Toquart Bay, Pinkerton Islands, and Effingham Inlet. Little Whitepine Cove is the only location identified in Clayoquot Sound.
"It will be minimum impact in Clayoquot Sound because most farms are in Lemmens Inlet," said Scott Fraser, chair of the Working Sound Shellfish Committee.
The closures have been implemented during the period when heavy rains are likely to occur. During the closures, no harvesting of clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, geoducks and horseclams is permitted in the designated areas.
"[The closures] always err on the side of caution," said "Oyster" Jim Martin, who harvests shellfish in Clayoquot Sound. "Any places that aren't tested are closed down." Environment Canada is concerned with public safety, not the economic effects of seasonal closures, he said.
The Working Sound Shellfish Committee has been working with Environment Canada to expand water testing practices, and farmers are testing water themselves to ensure accurate and well-rounded results.
"Local stewardship is the key to dealing with federal regulations," said Fraser. The committee is also trying to get Lemmens Inlet designated a federal no-discharge zone to prevent similar closures in the future.
While water quality is acceptable for bivalve shellfish harvest most of the year, high fecal counts have been recorded during periods of 24-hour rainfall following extended dry periods.
The pattern of fecal contamination occurs in areas with both sparse and dense human populations; it is believed to originate from wildlife, when back country areas are flushed out after a heavy rainfall. Typically the high counts occur for a short period of time following the rain and soon return to normal level, acceptable for shellfish harvesting.
Martin said any affected
harvesters will have to postpone harvesting until the closures are lifted
on Nov. 15. For more details about the closures, call Fisheries and Oceans
in Tofino at 725-3468.
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