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Public Notice - Molluscan Shellfish Harvesting Closure - Significant Rainfall - South Coast - Burin Peninsula Area, NL - pn.25.017

November 12, 2025

FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA

PUBLIC NOTICE

pn.25.017B

Nov. 12, 2025

Molluscan Shellfish Harvesting Closure – Significant Rainfall – South Coast – Burin Peninsula Area, NL

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) advises the public of the closure for the harvesting of all bivalve shellfish including Arctic wedge clams, Atlantic razor clams, Atlantic surf clams, bay quahaugs, northern propeller clams, ocean quahaugs, softshell clam, Stimpson’s surf clams, bay mussels, blue mussel, horse mussels, American oysters, bay scallops, Iceland scallops, purple hinge rock scallop, (except sea scallops), northern moon snails, waved whelks, and Stimpson’s whelks for recreational or commercial purposes in the following areas effective 1800 hours on November 12, 2025:

Those coastal waters starting near Grey River Point (47.572120126 N 57.117692700 W), southeast to include the Burin Peninsula, to a point near Eastern Head (47.363741232 N 54.524493634 W).

As a result, there is reason to believe that the sanitary conditions of the adjacent marine waters may have degraded to the point where accepted water quality standards have been exceeded and the contamination of the water would likely pose a risk to public health if shellfish in the affected area were harvested for consumption.

More detailed information on these closed areas can be obtained from the nearest DFO office or the following website:

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/CheckBeforeYouHarvest

The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region give notice that Prohibition Order NSN-2025-003 comes into effect at 1800 hours on November 12, 2025.

In accordance with Appendix VIII of the CSSP Manual of Operations, these areas must remain closed for a minimum of seven days. There will be a Public Notice when the closure is lifted.

For more information on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program please consult the following website: https://www.inspection.gc.ca/preventive-controls/fish/cssp/eng/1563470078092/1563470123546

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For information, contact:
Stephen Moyse
Regional Aquaculture Management Officer
Aquaculture Management
Tel. (709)687-6669
Email: stephen.moyse@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Dr. Erin Carruthers

Dr. Erin Carruthers is the Science Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), which is the labour union that represents the owner-operator fleet in Newfoundland and Labrador. The FFAW is committed to research and management that supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. Dr. Carruthers received her Ph. D. in Biology from Memorial University in 2011 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. Before coming to Newfoundland, Erin worked as a Research Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the St. Andrews Biological Station. Her current research program is co-constructed with fish harvesters and includes research on coastal fishing communities, collaborative longline and trap surveys, and best practices for the avoidance, handling and release of unwanted catch.