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Planned bivalve shellfish harvesting closures

Eating contaminated shellfish can make you very sick and can even be life threatening. As well as our regular monitoring program, planned harvest closures are put in place to reduce the risk of harvesting and eating contaminated bivalve shellfish.

Seasonal closures: We know that some areas are more likely to be unsafe to harvest from at certain times of the year. These areas are closed to harvesting during these periods. Check the table below for the times and areas of these closures.

Conditional Management Plan closures: Conditional Management Plan (CMP) closures are put in place after an event takes place that may make bivalve shellfish unsafe to eat.

Planned harvesting closures

It is illegal and unsafe to harvest any bivalve shellfish species in the areas and times stated below. If the area or time that you are intending to harvest from is not listed below, make sure to check the specific area page to see what is safe to harvest.

Closure date Closure Map Description
05310930 May 15 - Sept 30 28.B Indian Arm, Burrard Inlet Subarea: 02-14
Map: Closure 28.B		 Subarea 28-14 described as the head of Indian Arm north of a line drawn from a point on land at Iron Bay at 49°27.464’ north latitude and 122°52.246’ west longitude, thence in a westerly direction to a point on land on the opposite shore south of the Wigwam Inn at 49°27.420’ north latitude and 122°53.100’ west longitude. [NAD 83]
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 07.B Wigham Cove, Yeo Island Subarea: 07-15
Map: Closure 07.B		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Wigham Cove, Yeo Island, inside a line drawn from the headland at the eastern end of the cove entrance at 52° 16.64' north latitude and 128° 10.40' west longitude, thence west to the opposite shore at 52° 16.64' north latitude and 128° 10.51' west longitude. [NAD 27]
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 09.A Clam Bay, Penrose Island Subarea: 09-1
Map: Closure 09.A		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of the unnamed bay, locally known as Clam Beach, located on the west side of Penrose Island, lying inside a line drawn from a point on land at 51° 29.25' north latitude and 127° 45.90' west longitude thence south to the westernmost point on the small unnamed island, thence southeast to the headland on Fury Island at 51° 29.10' north latitude and 127° 45.80' west longitude, thence east along the high water mark to the easternmost point of Fury Island at 51° 29.07' north latitude and 127° 45.35' west longitude, thence northeasterly to a point on the opposite shore at 51° 29.10' north latitude and 127° 45.28' west longitude. [NAD 83]
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 12.A Cutter Cove Subarea: 12-26
Map: Closure 12.A		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Cutter Cove lying east of a line drawn from the southern headland of the cove, thence northerly to the westernmost point on the northern headland.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 13.B Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island Subarea: 13-17
Map: Closure 13.B		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 13.C Drew Harbour, Quadra Island Subarea: 13-13
Map: Closure 13.C		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Drew Harbour, Quadra Island, lying inside a straight line drawn from the northernmost tip of Rebecca Spit across the entrance of Drew Harbour to its western headland.
07010915July 1 – Sept 15 13.F Western Gorge Harbour, Cortes Island Subarea: 13-15
Map: Closure 13.F		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of western Gorge Harbour, Cortes Island lying west of a line drawn from the base of the marina boat ramp at 50°06.04’ north latitude and 125°01.45’ west longitude, thence in a southwesterly direction to a point of land on the opposite shore at 50°05.93’ north latitude and 125°01.72’ west longitude during the period July 1 to September 15 each year. [NAD83]
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 14.A Tribune Bay, Hornby Island Subarea: 14-7
Map: Closure 14.A		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Tribune Bay, Hornby Island, lying inside of a line from Dunlop Point on the southwest shore at 49°30.58’ north latitude and 124°37.87’ west longitude thence northeasterly to a point on land at 49°30.97’ north latitude and 124°36.39’ west longitude. [NAD 83].
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 14.B False Bay, Lasqueti Island Subarea: 14-3
Carte : Secteur 14,B		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of False Bay, Lasqueti Island, lying north of a line drawn from a point of land on the southeast side of Higgins Island at 49°29.591’ north latitude and 124°21.721’ west longitude, thence northeasterly to a point on land on Lasqueti Island at 49°29.638’ north latitude and 124°21.341’ west longitude, thence following the high tide mark of the Lasqueti Island shoreline beginning in a northerly and westerly direction to point on land at 49°29.728’ north latitude and 124°22.160’ west longitude, thence southeasterly to a point on land on the northwest side of Higgins Island at 49°29.700’ north latitude and 124°22.090’ west longitude, thence easterly and southerly following the high tide mark back to the point of commencement. [NAD 83].
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 15.A Prideaux Haven Subarea: 15-5.C
Map: Closure 15.A		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of the area known as Prideaux Haven, including Melanie Cove and Laura Cove, bounded on the west by a line drawn along the shortest distance from Eveleigh Island to the shore of the mainland and on the north by a line drawn from Lucy Point on Eveleigh Island to the westernmost tip of Scobell Island and thence from the easternmost tip of Scobell Island to Copplestone Point.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 15.B Tenedos Bay Subarea: 15-5.B
Map: Closure 15.B		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Tenedos Bay lying inside a line drawn from the eastern tip of Bold Head northeast to the southern headland of the easternmost bay of Tenedos Bay.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 15.C Allies I. - West Redonda Island Subarea: 15-5.C
Map: Closure 15.C		 The waters and intertidal foreshore lying between Allies Island and west Redonda Island.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 15.D Roscoe Bay, West Redonda Island Subarea: 15-5.C
Map: Closure 15.D		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Roscoe Bay, west Redonda Island.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 15.E Squirrel Cove, Cortes Island Subarea: 15-5.B
Map: Closure 15.E		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Squirrel Cove, Cortes Island, lying inside a line drawn along the shortest distance from the western shore of Protection Island to Cortes Island and inside a line drawn along the shortest distance from the eastern shore of Protection Island to Cortes Island.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 15.F Cortes Bay, Cortes Island Subarea: 15-3
Map: Closure 15.F		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Cortes Bay, Cortes Island, lying inside a line drawn across the entrance to the bay.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 15.G Grace Harbour Subarea: 15-4
Map: Closure 15.G		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Grace Harbour lying inside a line drawn from Moss Point to Scott Point, excluding the annual closure 15.17.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 15.H Mink Island Subarea: 15-5.B
Map: Closure 15.H		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of the prominent bay on the southeast side of Mink Island, Desolation Sound, lying west of a line drawn true north from the point of land at 50°06.20’ north latitude and 124°45.20’ west longitude.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 16.A Smuggler Cove Subarea: 16-1
Map: Closure 16.A		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Smuggler Cove lying inside a line drawn from the Smuggler Cove Marine Park sign at the entrance to the cove to the opposite shore.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 16.C Buccaneer Bay Subarea: 16-1
Map: Closure 16.C		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Buccaneer Bay, Thormanby Islands, south of a line drawn from the westernmost unnamed point west of Derby Point on South Thormanby Island at 49°30.48’ north latitude and 123°58.96’ west longitude, thence northerly to the green lateral buoy designated Q51, located at or near 49°31.12’ north latitude and 123°59.10’ west longitude, thence southwesterly to a point on land at the edge of the beach at the base of the cliff on North Thormanby Island at 49°30.57’ north latitude and 124°00.08’ west longitude; and northeast of a line drawn from Grassy Point, North Thormanby Island at 49°29.68’ north latitude and 123°59.45’ west longitude, thence southeasterly to the nearest point of land on South Thormanby Island at 49°29.60’ north latitude and 123°59.36’ west longitude.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 17.B Pirates Cove, De Courcy Island Subarea: 17-17
Map: Closure 17.B		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Pirates Cove, De Courcy Island.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 17.D Cove northwest of Conover Cove Subarea: 17-2
Map: Closure 17.D		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of the cove northwest of Conover Cove, Wallace Island, lying inside a line drawn from the northwesternmost point of the shoal at 48°56.65' north latitude and 123°33.40' west longitude, thence northeasterly to the end of the headland on the opposite shore [NAD 27].
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 17.E Montague Harbour, Galiano Island Subarea: 17-2
Map: Closure 17.E		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Montague Harbour, Galiano Island, inside a line drawn from the southeastern tip of Gray Peninsula northeasterly to the base of the overhead cable tower on the northeastern foreshore of the harbour.
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 17.F Clam Bay Subarea: 17-8
Map: Closure 17.F		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Clam Bay inside of a line drawn from a point on land on Penelakut (Kuper) Island near the entrance to “The Cut” at 48°59.01’ north latitude and 123°39.32’ west longitude northeasterly to the southernmost point of Leech Island at 48°59.47’ north latitude and 123°38.88’ west longitude, thence southeasterly to the tip of Penelakut Spit on Penelakut (Kuper) Island at 48°58.99’ north latitude and 123°38.10’ west longitude, and thence following the shoreline along the high tide mark back to the point of commencement. [NAD83]
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 18.A Long Harbour, Saltspring Island Subarea: 18-3
Map: Closure 18.A		 Long Harbour, Saltspring Island. The waters and intertidal foreshore of Long Harbour, Saltspring Island, east of the Shellfish Sanitary Closure 18.16 boundary to a line drawn across the narrows northwest of the BC Ferries dock, from the northern side of the narrows at 48°51.62' north latitude and 123°27.73' west longitude due south to the southern side of the narrows at 48°51.55' north latitude and 123°27.73' west longitude.[NAD 83]
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 18.B Reef Harbour, Tumbo Island Subarea: 18-11
Map: Closure 18.B		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Reef Harbour, lying inside a line drawn from the northeastern tip of Tumbo Island at 48°47.90' north latitude and 123°04.45' west longitude to Cabbage Island thence along the northern shoreline of Cabbage Island to a point at 48°48.00' north latitude and 123°05.25' west longitude, and thence southward to a point on Tumbo Island at 48°47.75' north latitude and 123°05.25' west longitude [NAD 27].
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 18.C Hood Island Subarea: 18-6
Map: Closure 18.C		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Princess Bay located inside a line drawn from the southernmost point of Portland Island at 48°43.04’ north latitude and 123°22.52’ west longitude, thence southeast to the southernmost point of Hood Island at 48°42.88’ north latitude and 123°22.39’ west longitude, thence following the shoreline to the easternmost point of Hood Island, thence northeast to the southernmost point on the unnamed island located north of the Tortoise Islets at 48°43.08’ north latitude and 123°22.08’ west longitude, thence southwest to a point of land on Portland Island at 48°43.05’ north latitude and 123°22.26’ west longitude. [NAD 83]
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 18.D Winter Cove Subarea: 18-5
Map: Closure 18.D		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Winter Cove, lying east of a line drawn from Mikuni Point at 48°48.66’ north latitude and 123°12.21 west longitude thence true north to a point on land at 48°48.84 north latitude and 123°12.21 west longitude; and west of a line drawn from Winter Point at 48°48.83 north latitude and 123°11.33 west longitude northerly to Ralph Grey Point at 48°48.86 north latitude and 123°11.35 west longitude. [NAD 83]
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 19.A Sidney Spit Marine Park Subarea: 19-6
Map: Closure 19.A		 Those waters inside a line, representing DFO statistical subarea 19-6, that begins at the end of Sidney Spit at 48° 39.19' north latitude and 123°20.67' west longitude, thence in a southeasterly direction to a point of land on Sidney Island at 48°38.65' north latitude and 123°20.02' west longitude, thence following the shoreline of Sidney Spit Marine Park on Sidney Island to a point on land at 48°38.27' north latitude and 123°20.38' west longitude, thence northerly to the beginning point (NAD 83).
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 23.C Entrance Inlet Subarea: 23-9
Map: Closure 23.C		 With the exception of Cigarette Cove at the head of Entrance Inlet, which is closed annually under Sanitary Closure Map 23.3, the waters and intertidal foreshore of Entrance Inlet, lying inside a line drawn across the narrows at the entrance, from a point on land on the west side of the entrance at 49° 00.00' north latitude and 125° 17.78' west longitude, to a point on land on the east side of the entrance at 48° 59.98' north latitude and 125° 17.70' west longitude, thence to the narrows at the boundary on Sanitary Closure Map 23.3, at a line drawn across the narrows from a point on land on the west side at 49° 00.33' north latitude and 125° 17.45' west longitude, to a point on land on the east side at 49° 00.33' north latitude and 125° 17.41' west longitude (NAD 27).
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 23.H Robbers Passage Subarea: 23-5
Map: Closure 23.H		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Robbers Passage, south of a line drawn from a point of land on Tzartus Island at 48° 53.81' north latitude and 125° 07.00' west longitude due west to a point on land on Fleming Island at 48° 53.81' north latitude and 125° 07.27' west longitude; and north of a line drawn from a point of land on Tzartus Island at 48° 53.64' north latitude and 125° 06.81' west longitude southwesterly to a point of land on Fleming Island at 48° 53.58' north latitude and 125° 06.88' west longitude (NAD83).
05310930May 31 to Sep 30 25.A Santa Gertudis Cove, Nootka Island Subarea: 25-6
Map: Closure 25.A		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Santa Gertrudis Cove, Nootka Island, inside a line drawn from the point at the southern end of the cove entrance at 49°36.23' north latitude and 126°36.85' west longitude to the point on the northern end of the cove entrance at 49°36.10' north latitude and 126°36.90' west longitude [NAD 27].
0000Conditional Management Plan 14.22A Baynes Sound CMP Subareas 14-8, 14-11, 14-15
Map: Closure 14.22A		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Baynes Sound in Area 14 inside a line commencing at a point on the Vancouver Island shore at the range marker located at the end of Amber Way Road at 49°37.40' north latitude and 124°54.51' west longitude, thence northeasterly to a point in water at 49°37.72' north latitude and 124°54.07' west longitude, thence southeasterly to a point in water at 49°36.01' north latitude and 124°52.72' west longitude, thence southeasterly to a point in water mid-channel at 49°33.31' north latitude and 124°51.72' west longitude (off Denman Point), thence southeasterly to a point in water off Base Flat at 49°31.54' north latitude and 124°49.71' west longitude, thence southwesterly to a point on land at 49°31.34' north latitude and 124°50.25' west longitude excluding all contamination closures. [NAD 83].
0000Conditional Management Plan 14.22B Baynes Sound CMP Subarea 14-8
Map: Closure 14.22B		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Baynes Sound from a northern boundary starting at Base Flats at a position 49°31.34' north latitude and 124°50.25' west longitude extending northeasterly to 49°31.54' north latitude and 124°49.71' west longitude thence southeasterly to a position at 49°30.71' north latitude and 124°47.97' west longitude thence southwesterly to a position 49°30.34' north latitude and 124°48.40' west longitude at Ship Point
0000Conditional Management Plan 14.22CBaynes Sound CMP Subarea 14-8
Map: Closure 14.22C		 The waters and intertidal foreshore of Baynes Sound inside a line commencing at the northern point of Ship Point at a position 49°30.34' north latitude and 124°48.40' west longitude, thence northeasterly to a position 49°30.71' north latitude and 124°47.97' west longitude, thence southeasterly to a position 49°28.47' north latitude and 124°44.95' west longitude, thence southerly to a point on the Vancouver Island shore at 49°27.74' north latitude and 124°45.47' west longitude
0000Conditional Management Plan 14.hh French Creek CMP Subareas 14-1 to 14-4
Map: Closure 14.hh		 The waters and intertidal foreshore inside a circular arc with a radius of 6500 m, and excluding the areas already included in Annual Closures 14.6, 14.10, and 14.16 centered at a point on land at 49° 21.55' north latitude and 124° 25.49' west longitude, which intersects the shoreline at 49° 22.037' north latitude and 124° 30.81' west longitude and again at 49° 20.43' north latitude and 124° 20.43' west longitude, near Hall Road in the Town of Qualicum Beach [NAD 83]
0000Conditional Management Plan 14.ii French Creek CMP Subareas 14-1 to 14-4
Map: Closure 14.ii		 The waters and intertidal foreshore inside a circular arc with a radius of 6500 m, and excluding the area already included in Annual Closure 14.10, centered at a point on land at 49° 19.54' north latitude and 124° 19.41' west longitude, which intersects the shoreline at 49° 21.46' north latitude and 124° 23.88' west longitude and again at 49° 18.64' north latitude and 124° 14.20' west longitude, near Bay Avenue in the City of Parksville [NAD 83]
0000Conditional Management Plan 20.10A Sooke Basin Conditional Management Plan Subarea: 20-7
Map: 20.10A		 Those waters of Sooke Basin inside a line that commences at a point in water at 48°22.867’ north latitude and 123°40.042’ west longitude, then due east in a straight line to a point in water at 48°22.867’ north latitude and 123°39.095’ west longitude, then due south in a straight line to a point in water at 48°22.543’ north latitude and 123°39.095’ west longitude, then due west in a straight line to a point in water at 48°22.543’ north latitude and 123°40.042’ west longitude, then due north to the point of commencement. [NAD 83]

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Email: DFO.PACCSSP-PCAMPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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