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March 3, 2026, 5:26 pm |  |
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SoonWhere You Can Vacation And Be Home The Same Day
TNT The Naked Truth- March 2, 2026Don PitcairnSelfish For Shellfish
As we often do when the weather is nice and the horizon clear, we went down to the wild side of Crescent Beach last week to watch the sunset. With the increasing hours of light and changing tides, when we got to the shore near the Christopherson Steps we were pleasantly surprised to see that the tide was out. This meant dry sandbars for a nice easy walk surrounded by tidal pools and eelgrass beds, plus more colourful pictures with reflections off the water. While focused on taking pictures of the colours of the sunset, once the colour had faded we turned around to head back home. That was when I noticed large holes in the sand all around the perimeter of the sandbar we were walking on. It was obvious that these were not a natural phenomenon and had been created by people digging for bi-valve shellfish. Just in the small area we were in, I quickly counted over 100 of these large dig holes.The issue with this is the waters of Semiahmoo and Boundary Bay have been closed for almost 50 years due public health risks and conservation concerns in the region. Harvesting shellfish from these closed waters is both illegal and dangerous. Shellfish filter ocean water to feed and accumulate bacteria, viruses and biotoxins found in the ocean water. In our area, contamination from poor farming practices, drainage pipes, untreated sewage plus other industrial and municipal sources create toxins in shellfish that are not destroyed by cooking. Even though access points to the shoreline around South Surrey and White Rock are clearly posted with signs warning that shellfish harvesting is illegal, they are often ignored or not read by people who do not speak English or French. There were several times last year when I saw Asian families walking back from the surf line with bags of shellfish. The shore of Crescent Rock Beach is often littered with large Geo-duck shells, which often happens at night under the cover of darkness.To give you an idea of why this is important, here is a recent news release from Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Feb. 24, 2026 concerning illegal shellfish harvesting that took place in Nanaimo leading to the arrest, conviction and sentencing of two men there.Nanaimo, B.C. - Illegal harvesting contributes to declining fish stocks and aquatic habitat destruction, as well as threatens food safety, and impacts the sustainability of fisheries for coastal and Indigenous communities, recreational harvesters, and commercial operators. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officers play a vital role in combating illegal harvesting through their work to enforce fishing laws, conduct inspections, monitor ecosystems, and promote public education and conservation.On January 22, 2026, in Nanaimo Provincial Court, Chao Jan Yu and Li Hua Chen were convicted of multiple offences under Canada’s Fisheries Act. Mr. Yu was fined a total of $6,500 dollars ($2,500 for obstructing a fishery officer carrying out his duties; $2,000 for retaining more than the daily limit of 75 clams; and $2,000 for harvesting prohibited species). Ms. Chen was fined $4,000 dollars ($2,000 for harvesting prohibited species; and $2,000 for possessing illegally caught fish). Both were placed under a two-year fishing prohibition from harvesting any species of fish.The convictions stem from a June 2024 patrol in the Nanoose Bay Recreational Shellfish Reserve. From an elevated vantage point, fishery officers observed two individuals collecting shellfish in the intertidal zone, an area closed to shellfish harvesting due to possible contamination. As the pair left the beach, they encountered the fishery officers on the railway tracks where Mr. Yu attempted to evade the officers and discarded two buckets of clams.DFO reminds the public that shellfish harvesting closures are in place to protect public health and ensure sustainable fisheries. Unauthorized harvesting puts consumers, ecosystems, legitimate harvesters and Canada’s reputation as an exporter of safe shellfish at risk. Obstructing fishery officers or failing to provide required documentation are serious offences that can result in significant penalties.DFO protects and conserves marine resources, and enforces the Fisheries Act. As part of DFO’s work to disrupt and prevent illegal activity, the Department asks the public for information on activities of this nature or any contravention of the Fisheries Act and regulations. Anyone with information can call DFO Pacific Region’s toll-free violation reporting line at 1‑800‑465‑4336, or email the details to DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.During the warmer months you can often meet DFO officers at the staircases going down the Ocean Park bluff plus at the south end of Crescent Beach. They also are known to scan the beach from elevated vantage points (I won't reveal where) using high-powered spotting scopes. I often stop and talk to them aboutany possible illegal clam digging plus people walking down the beach or tracks carrying gear not for suntanning but for digging clams. The naturists who frequent the rough and secluded areas across the length of Crescent Rock Beach also keep an eye out for this illegal activity and make reports to DFO. For people living in White Rock, South Surrey or Crescent Beach, it is important to act as the eyes and ears of DFO as they have limited resources and are stretched thin with their enforcement duties. For those lucky enough to live at the top of the Ocean Park bluff, their unobstructed water view plus having telescopes at the ready makes them an important line of defense in locating those digging clams illegally along Boundary Bay.If you see anyone you believe is actively harvesting shellfish from this closed area, please call the DFO Pacific Region's toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336 or email DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. | ||
Kelly Breaks photo
