|
DFO Shuts Down Shellfish Harvesting in Portions of Nova Scotia |
|
|
|
Written by Staff
|
|
Thursday, 05 July 2007 |
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on Thursday closed a portion of the Nova Scotia coast to shellfish harvesting because of rising levels of the marine biotoxin that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Shellfish included in the harvesting closure include oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, quahogs and whelks, all members of the bi-valve mollusc family. The closure applies to all harvesting of the above shellfish for commercial and recreational purposes.
The area closed to harvesting begins at Pennant Point and includes Ketch Harbour, Sandy Cove and Sambro Harbour, all located within Halifax County.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) results from eating shellfish which have fed upon toxic dinoflagellates, a type of one celled microscopic organism which forms an important part of the ocean plankton. Shellfish are filter feeders that ingest and accumulate these toxins in their system. The PSP toxins are relatively heat stable and normal cooking or canning processes cannot be relied upon to render a contaminated product as safe. Normal cooking does not reduce the PSP content of bivalve molluscs.
The symptoms of PS poisoning after ingesting contaminated shellfish include:
* numbness or tingling of the lips and tongue, which spreads to the fingers and toes
* loss of muscular coordination
* headache and dizziness
* paralysis
* inability to breathe
Although there is no known antidote to paralytic shellfish poisoning it is to be considered an emergency and immediate medical treatment is essential.
|
