St. Mary's Bay Off Limits to Clamdiggers

Toxins close shoreline to clamdiggers
Paralytic shellfish poisoning risk high in Digby County’s St. Marys Bay
By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
Sat, Jul 24 - 4:53 AM

Federal fishery officer Leisha Clarke-Doherty posts a notice Friday announcing the closure of shellfish harvesting in St. Marys Bay.(Brian Medel / STAFF)






BELLIVEAUS COVE — All the beaches and shorelines of St. Marys Bay in Digby County are now off limits to commercial and recreational clamdiggers because the potential for paralytic shellfish poisoning has increased dramatically this month.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency tests regularly and issued the warning this week, federal fishery officer Howard Blinn said Friday.

"They test the clams," Blinn said.

The levels of biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning are extremely high, he said.

As a result, "all of St. Marys Bay . . . is closed for mussels, soft-shelled clams, bar clams, razor clams, etc."

Scallops are not included in the closure, said Blinn.

Fishery officers posted signs Friday morning on public roads leading to popular beach areas. The signs warn of the danger and prohibit commercial and recreational harvesting until further notice.

Toxins that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning are natural but sometime accumulate in bivalve shellfish, which include shellfish with hinged upper and lower shells.

"These closures are very common, especially in the Annapolis Basin," said Gary d’Entremont, the acting inspection manager in the agency’s Yarmouth office.

"They occur every year."

The toxins are produced as a result of a plankton bloom, he said. The agency will increase its sampling during the closure.

"We want to monitor how far it’s progressing," said d’Entremont.

In a news release, the food inspection agency said consumers may ask wherever they purchase clams or mussels if there is proper documentation to ensure that the shellfish was harvested from an approved or open area.

The agency has issued a fact sheet on paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning may begin within a few minutes of eating contaminated shellfish or may take up to 10 hours to develop.

Symptoms include a tingling or numbness around the lips that gradually spreads to the face and neck.

Fingertips and toes may also be affected and victims may experience headache and dizziness, said the fact sheet.

A person suffering from paralytic shellfish poisoning may have trouble breathing and seeing, and may vomit.

Medical attention should be sought.

In extreme cases, respiratory arrest and death may result within two to 12 hours after consuming contaminated shellfish, the fact sheet said.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning can occur in other countries and people should always be cautious when consuming mussels and clams while vacationing, the agency said.

( bmedel@herald.ca)