Shellfish

Shellfish is a popular term used to describe aquatic invertebrate animals (without a backbone) that are harvested. Many shellfish like clams, crabs and sea urchins have a hard outer shell, but there are also shellfish with shells reduced or even absent, such as squid, octopus and sea cucumbers. Bivalve molluscs means shellfish with two shells, such as clams, oysters, scallops, mussels and cockles.

Few meals can rival a feast of West Coast clams, oysters, mussels, prawns or crabs. Where permitted by regulations, shellfish may be easily harvested from the beach. Prawns and crabs require traps, but even this process is relatively easy. Recreational fishers are required to hold a British Columbia Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence to harvest shellfish in tidal waters.

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Be Careful 

Eating contaminated biotoxins in shellfish can be life threatening.

Make sure you check to see which areas are closed due to PSP (Red Tide) by calling the Shellfish Information Line: (604) 666-2828. This information can change frequently.

For updated shellfish limits, please see the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Web site.