The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has re-opened the North Beach area for recreational scallop harvesting, after tests showed the scallops are now safe to eat.
Previous high levels of biotoxins had closed the fishery for several months. Tom Hlavac, DFO conservation and protection supervisor, said the scallop fishery was re-opened Dec. 9.
McIntyre Bay (subarea 1-05), which is roughly the area of ocean between Wiah Point west of Masset and Rose Point, including North Beach, is now open for razor clam and weathervane scallop harvesting, Mr. Hlavac said. However, it remains closed to other bivalve shellfish like cockles and butter clams, partly because there is no testing program for these species.
Similarly, subarea 2-1, which is Skidegate Inlet, is closed to all bivalve shellfish except oysters and scallops, Mr. Hlavac said. An aquaculture farm in the area raises oysters and scallops which are tested regularly, he said.