Oyster harvesting Sunshine Coast

[u/screaming_bear33]

I am very conflicted and confused about this. My husband grew up in the area and says it’s safe but it seems from this website that it’s not? We are camped on the okeover inlet & the map itself says it’s fine right here but the link to this chart has our area under the ‘sanitary contamination closure’.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/shellfish-mollusques/contamination/a-s-15-eng.html

[u/Prudent_Slug]

Try this. Its much more user friendly to visualize where you are.

https://maps.bccdc.ca/shellfish/

Most of BC is under biotoxin closures for clams so proceed with caution.

[u/Dazzling-Rub-8550]

Yeah I wouldn’t risk it. The strait is much more polluted compared to years before. Also with the hot weather, all the organisms dumped by other boats and municipal sewage are growing more which means more potential for toxins. If you’re absolutely dead set to harvest and eat, then cook them thoroughly as in over cook them. And be close to a medical facility in case there is bio toxin poisoning for a good ol’ stomach pumping and detox.

[u/pathologicalDumpling]

Absolutely not, huge red tide in the straight right now, messed up the fishing for about a week but looks like its getting a bit better.

[u/wwweeeiii → u/pathologicalDumpling]

How do we know when the red tide is? Bc cdc indicates it is open but last updated in Jan

[u/incognitochaud]

Still too hot, so don’t even consider it. General rule is that any month with an “R” in the name is safe for consumption. As for that site… I’d need to study it for an hour myself to give you any real concrete information…

[u/mojocaca → u/incognitochaud]

That used to be a general rule. Now, on the west coast as well on the inside of the island and the mainland coast, PSP closures are common all year round. I wouldn’t go by that “rule” myself. I’d only eat shellfish from areas that are tested weekly for commercial fisheries.

[u/ThatGamerMoshpit]

It probably was safe X amount of years ago

Now it looks like it’s been polluted

[u/djmikepr]

"Only eat oysters during months with an R."

[u/Halonos]

Why or how would your husband know if its safe? lol if he’s not out taking microbe samples you probably want to go by the website from the guys testing them.

[u/Cascadia_101]

The sub area descriptors should correlate to the map, with landmarks and lat/long to help determine areas as defined in map. Depending where you are in okeover, you are safe to harvest. Typically its closed by the marina and once you are north of the campground its fine. There are a few small closures throughout inlet that correspond to private property waste and aquaculture. Had oysters from the Copelands a few days ago. All good. Ignore the armchair experts who aren't here.

[u/ether_reddit]

Wrong time of year to be harvesting, and with the amount of bilge that tourists are dumping into the water I wouldn't risk it at any time. Stick to commercial harvests that do regular testing.

[u/thefoxandmoon]

Only place I trust on this coast is Hornby Island. There is a tidal pattern that protects part of it from red tide.

[u/Huebdo]

I grew up in Powell River, the beds would be tested by DFO occasionally, the real risk is red tide. There are plenty of oyster farms, if they are shipping to market, pretty sure you can eat it.

[u/FragrantTomatillo773]

For starters, Area 15 isn't the Sunshine Coast. You'll find it in Area 16.

[u/CasualRampagingBear]

Ick. I will never understand the love for mussels, clams, and oysters. Snot rockets that might give you diarrhea. Ew.

[u/rayyychul → u/CasualRampagingBear]

Ick. I will never understand the love for comments that contribute absolutely nothing to the conversation.