Environmental Trends 2007

Population and Economic Activity

Shellfish Closures Due to Sewage Contamination

Areas of shellfish beds are closed when they are found to be contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria. These bacteria come from sewage discharge as well as urban runoff, agricultural drainage and occasionally from wildlife sources.

Closures to shellfish harvest on the B.C. coast have been stable since 2002.

Source: Environment Canada 2005b.

• In recent years, Georgia Basin locations represented 58 per cent of the area closed to shellfish harvesting. Outside of the Georgia Basin, the areas under closure tripled from 1989 to 2004. This increase is partly a result of expanded monitoring programs, but it is also directly linked to the increasing population and growing development along shorelines.

For detailed information, including graph data, see in-depth report [pdf].