PROJECTS

BARKLEY AND CLAYOQUOT SOUND SHELLFISH SANITARY GROWING WATER STUDY

Our consulting team, led a project in cooperation with the BC Shellfish Growers Association, Clayoquot Oyster Growers Association, Underwater Harvesters Association, local First Nations and Environment Canada to develop and conduct an in-depth study of the factors that influence sanitary quality of shellfish growing waters in Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds on the west coast of Vancouver Island. These waters are important commercial, recreational, and First Nations shellfishery areas.

This project began in response to extended fall closures for harvesting areas in the Sounds evidenced by seasonal water quality degradation detected during Environment Canada sanitary surveys. Initial indications were that decreased water quality was associated with heavy fall rainfall events, however specific details about the identification and source of the pollution, the duration, , range, depth, and extent of the contamination, and the relationship between climatological factors and decreased water quality needed to be answered.

This multi-season project endeavoured to address these issues with a combination of stakeholder bases systematic random surveys, intensive field sampling during rainfall events, bacterial source tracking and data analysis.

Support for this project was provided by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, BC Science Council, Environment Canada, local industry stakeholders and First Nations. Data collected during this study led to recommendations to remove harvesting closures in Clayoquot Sound and significantly reduce closures in Barkley Sound.

This project is now completed, although the stakeholder based sampling program is continuing with Environment Canada

Download our final report here (2.6 MB)

Pacific Shellfish Classification Committee decisions made for Fall 2002

Barkley Sound

Clayoquot Sound