SHELLFISH SERVICES

The ECW Laboratory has been ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited by the Standards Council of Canada since 2011 to perform fecal coliform analysis of marine water [using SMEWW 9221(E)].

With this accreditation, our staff is able to participate in the Marine Water Quality Monitoring program facilitated by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), which identifies safe shellfish harvesting areas in Canada through monitoring coastal waters for contamination. Field staff at ECW spend over half of the year on the waters of southwestern New Brunswick collecting seawater samples in shellfish growing areas, which are then received by our laboratory for microbiological testing to identify levels of fecal contamination.

The results of this work are used by ECCC to support the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP), which aims to minimize the health risks associated with consuming contaminated bivalve molluscan shellfish (mussels, oysters, and clams). This program has significant socioeconomic impacts for coastal rural communities, like that of Charlotte County. The CSSP ensures that:

·       bivalve molluscan shellfish are harvested from growing areas meeting approved federal water quality criteria

·       potential pollution sources in these areas are identified

·       all shellfish sold commercially are harvested, transported, and processed in an approved manner