Baynes Sound, between Denman Island and the east coast of Vancouver Island, has generated the deepest alarm. The region continues to struggle with health effects related to its oyster harvest. Stations 14-8 and 14-15 harvest areas have been under extreme fire. This comes after a series of closures and federal recalls for products contaminated with sewage. This chronic underfunding is a crisis that has thrown up red flags from coast to coast to coast. It threatens the U.S. market, where Canadian oysters compose a substantial share.
The area sits under two hours from Vancouver, known for its stunning beauty. This beauty hides a dark legacy of waters polluted by sewage. Recent outbreaks of illnesses linked to oysters harvested from Baynes Sound have had drastic consequences for nearby growers. “Those low tides last year created a 50 percent production drop for Fanny Bay Oysters. This loss was due to a three-month shutdown of the oyster reefs following an outbreak in December 2024. Alex Munro, director of farming and processing for Fanny Bay Oysters, confirmed the production decline in light of these challenges.
Stellar Bay Shellfish, a major producer in the Baynes Sound area, suffered a half-year closure this spring. This brewing crisis of epic proportions shows the current tug and pull that exists within the industry. Sean Reid, pictured at top, a representative from Stellar Bay Shellfish, had some unsettling information to report. The company almost went under for that same stretch of time the past two years. Each reclosure underlines just how precarious oyster farming is in this part of the world. Farmers like Craig are still reeling from history’s callous disregard for their health and safety.
Over the past six years, more than one-third of federal recalls involving Canadian oysters can be traced back to Baynes Sound. Health officials, including the FDA, are keeping a watchful eye on these recalls. They sounded alarms when oysters believed to harbor norovirus and Campylobacter jejuni were distributed to American consumers. The ramifications extend beyond local producers. By 2023, the Canadian oyster market has skyrocketed to phenomenal heights of $66 million. The United States continued to be the number one importer, accounting for almost 10.6 million pounds worth of Canadian oysters last year.
Baynes Sound has for years been the scene of protests over provincial government failure to act on sewage pollution. Government reports and studies over the past two decades have consistently called for increased regulation and oversight of the harvesting waters in this area. In fact, a lack of sewage treatment facilities persists as one of our nation’s more pressing issues.
“There are some areas where the municipality has not had any treatment of sewage,” – She
What these experts want is for the current reality to extend beyond approaches to agriculture. Unfortunately, in addition to the individual tragedies, it shines a light on serious systemic failures in our obligation to protect water quality. Nico Prins, another leading figure in the growing oyster farming community, struck the biggest chord. He explained, “This isn’t something farmers are doing to their oysters. This is something being done to the waters we grow them in.” His comments told a larger story about the insidious implications of these issues.
“The underlying causes point to long-standing government failures, jurisdictional confusion and a lack of meaningful partnership with industry.” – Nico Prins
Dr. Natalie Prystajecky raised concerns about the challenges surrounding illness confirmations linked to oysters, stating that “very few cases will actually have lab confirmation.” As evidenced by reports from consumers like Mark Kapczynski, who described excruciating symptoms associated with consumption of contaminated oysters, the public’s unease is palpable.
“After three or four hours, I wished I was dead it hurt so much,” – Mark Kapczynski
The story about the health danger of toxic oysters has helped galvanize local advocates to demand immediate attention. Paul Budreski articulated this sentiment succinctly:
“Who doesn’t want clean water? We have a problem here… maybe we should do something about it.”
The current recalls continue to illustrate how sensitive this industry can be to environmental impacts and regulatory misstep. As Dr. Prystajecky noted, we do see these recalls every year. While he talked about the inevitability of these disasters, he stressed that we often fail to act to stop them from happening. This USFWS comment highlights the clearly necessary increased effort to protect the public’s health and ensure that oyster farming remains a long-term sustainable industry.
Debates over the future of commercial oyster harvesting in Baynes Sound, between Denman and Vancouver islands, are getting hot. Neighbors and advocates are pressuring officials to address the underlying sources of pollution. The call for clean waters, and better sewage treatment solutions strikes a chord with the entire community.
