Fishery Notice

The safety of consumers is a top priority for the Government of Canada. The 
reputation of Canada's food supply is a responsibility shared by all parties, 
including industry and federal and provincial governments.

As partners for delivery of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP), 
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency 
(CFIA) collaborate to prevent illegal harvesting and selling of bivalve 
shellfish, including suspected laundering of illegal products through 
legitimate aquaculture businesses.  DFO also remains committed to meeting 
conservation objectives for bivalves as well as supporting priority for Food, 
Social and Ceremonial fisheries.  Any harvest occurring in conflict with 
established management measures and controls has the potential of negatively 
impacting the conservation of bivalve populations. 

DFO will investigate reports of illegal harvesting violations and will take 
appropriate enforcement actions, including prosecution.  Furthermore, DFO may 
consider more restrictive management approaches if needed to protect public 
health.  Commercial growers and harvesters are reminded that they are required, 
by law, to follow specific record-keeping and tagging requirements. Records of 
shellfish movement through the growing cycle and to the point of distribution 
provide evidence to support public health, regulatory decisions and closure 
recommendations.  

Commercial harvesters and aquaculture operators are required to:

-Understand and abide by the conditions of licence;
-Keep complete, clear and legible records and be able to produce them to a DFO 
fishery officer when requested;
-Ensure bivalve product destined for market sale is appropriately tagged with 
complete and accurate harvest information and is processed by an operator 
licenced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to process shellfish;
-Harvest only from open and approved areas and check our website before heading 
out for the latest information (www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/CheckBeforeYouHarvest).

If you are aware of illegal bivalve harvest activities and/or are aware of 
violations, please call the DFO Observe, Record and Report (ORR) phone line at 
1-800-465-4336.

CFIA is reminding licenced shellfish operators that they are required to obtain 
shellfish from approved sources in open status. Written preventive control 
plans (PCP) must demonstrate that adequate controls are in place to control 
food safety hazards, including demonstrating that incoming shellfish are 
sourced and harvested legally. 

CFIA inspectors verify PCP controls, including bivalve sourcing, as well as 
traceability documents and labels. A licence issued under the Safe Food for 
Canadians Regulations may be suspended if: 
-the licence holder does not comply with the Safe Food for Canadians Act or 
Regulations, or the Food and Drugs Act or the Food and Drug Regulations, 
-there is a default in payment of fees or 
-in the Minister's opinion there is a risk of injury to human health if the 
licence holder continues to conduct an activity identified in its licence.  

Licence suspensions are subject to public disclosure. 

More information on the policies and criteria for harvesting shellfish can be 
found in the CSSP manual.

We look forward to your cooperation on this matter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Wild Resource Management: 
Juanita Rogers - Program Coordinator, Invertebrates - South Coast Area, 250-756-
7268

Aquaculture Resource Management:
Gabrielle Kosmider - Senior Shellfish Aquaculture Management Coordinator, 250-
754-0404 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1142
Sent November 5, 2019 at 1204

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 17, 2025 at 0812