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[scotkemp]

wanting to go crabbing in tswassen this week with the low tides just wading out but i heard there is really bad red tide and i know it doesnt affect the crabs but just wanting a crab wizard to give me a solid answer thanks in advance

[Chuck23]

This should help you out:

All Areas

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is advising the public that the levels of paralytic
shellfish poisoning toxin (PSP or red tide) are high in numerous locations
throughout the coast.  Many areas in the North Coast, West Coast of Vancouver
Island, and some of the Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands are now closed to
harvesting bivalve shellfish due to unacceptable or rising PSP levels.
Additionally, Washington State's biotoxin monitoring program has detected
extremely toxic levels in areas adjacent to Canadian waters.

With all these PSP closures, the public is strongly urged to comply with
fishing regulations and not harvest any shellfish from these areas.  It is
illegal to harvest shellfish from contaminated areas and eating contaminated
shellfish can cause serious illness.  Cooking does not destroy the PSP toxin. 

Shellfish that have been commercially harvested legally and have been through
the necessary health and safety inspections are safe to eat.  Proper
documentation must accompany commercially harvested shellfish to demonstrate
that it has been harvested legally and been through the necessary inspections.

Bivalve shellfish are shellfish with two shells (such as oysters, mussels,
clams, and scallops).  PSP is caused by a naturally-occurring algae (plankton)
in coastal waters.  When the water temperature rises, the number of algae
increase in the water.  As bivalve molluscs feed on this algae by filtering
large volumes of water, they accumulate and concentrate the toxins.  PSP toxins
generally only occur in bivalve molluscs but if the levels are too high, crab
hepatopanchreas may also become toxic.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is reminding the public that B.C. coastal waters
are routinely monitored and are closed to shellfish harvesting when toxin
levels are too high for safe public consumption. However, some areas are NOT
monitored due to already existing permanent sanitary closures, mostly around
potential source of human pollution (e.g. waters adjacent to the entire lower
mainland). Information on permanent bivalve harvesting closures and PSP updates
can be found on the DFO website:

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/PSP

[Chuck23]

Oops - forgot to include the actual closures:

Fishery Notice
 
Category(s):    General Information
PSP (Red Tide) /Other Marine Toxins
ABORIGINAL - General Information
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Clam - Intertidal
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Clam - Razor
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Geoduck and Horseclam
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Oyster
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Scallop by Dive
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Scallop by Trawl
RECREATIONAL - Shellfish
Subject:    FN0486-PSP - Bivalve Shellfish: Marine Biotoxin Advisory - Widespread Closures on the B.C. Coast due to PSP
 

Crab is still open to harvest, but I would reccomend removing the "guts" / gills ect. (crab hepatopanchreas), prior to cooking as this is where a crab would house the PSP Biotoxin IF it were present.

[kmishn]

 where in tawassen do you do this? i would like to go for a walk... 

[chum dad]

Ferry Terminal

[Dogbreath]

crab hepatopanchreas may also become toxic.

Note that few people at the guts of a Crab and Darwin has a way of taking care of those that do.

[FISHIN MAGICIAN]

ANY crab caught in the Vancouver area should be cleaned first before cooking. Ensure all the silt and sediment is washed out from between and at the base of the legs before cooking.

[Matt1984]

ugh! I work for the ferries and we have to avoid those commercial crab pots and boats on a regular basis in the summer time.. they are everywhere! Crabbing has to be good!