Shellfish Water Classification Program (SWCP) – Shellfish Harvest Area Classification in Canada

This dataset provides geospatial polygon boundaries for marine bivalve shellfish harvest area classification in Canada (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec). These data represent the five classification categories of marine bivalve shellfish harvest areas (Approved; Conditionally Approved; Restricted; Conditionally Restricted; and Prohibited) under the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP). Data are collected by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for the purpose of making applicable classification recommendations based on pollution source assessment and water quality survey results. ECCC recommendations are reviewed and adopted by Regional Interdepartmental Shellfish Committees prior to regulatory implementation by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

These geographic data are for illustrative purposes only; they show shellfish harvest area classifications that may be superseded at any time by regulatory orders issued by DFO, which place areas in Closed Status, due to conditions such as sewage overflows or elevated biotoxin levels. For further information about the current status and boundary coordinates for areas under Prohibition Order, please contact your local DFO office.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field	Value
Last Updated	April 17, 2026, 19:35 (UTC)
Created	April 17, 2026, 19:35 (UTC)
contact_email	ec.msqeinformation-wqmsinformation.ec@canada.ca
contact_person	{"en": "Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada,1-800-668-6767,ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca", "fr": "Gouvernement du Canada; Environnement et Changement climatique Canada,ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca"}
criticality_level	[]
data_dictionary	["environment", "oceans"]
geographic_scope	[]
open_canada_collection	fgp
open_canada_date_published	2019-07-17 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords	{"en": ["Bacteriological Water Quality", "Shellfish", "Harvesting Shellfish", "Shellfish Sanitation", "Shellfish Areas", "Shellfish Areas Classification", "Marine Water", "Water Pollution", "Fecal Coliform", "All applicable data content", "Water quality", "Molluscs", "Classification", "Water pollution", "Water - Quality", "Designate and Manage Areas of Interest or Concern", "Oversee and Manage Site Conditions", "Atlantic - Nova Scotia (NS)", "Atlantic - Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)", "Atlantic - New Brunswick (NB)", "Quebec (QC)", "Atlantic - Prince Edward Island (PE)", "British Columbia (BC)", "National (CA)", "Science and Technology Branch", "Water Science and Technology", "1.2.1. Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems Health", "Unclassified"], "fr": ["qualité bactériologique de l'eau", "mollusque bivalve", "cueillette de mollusque", "salubrité des mollusque", "secteur coquillier", "classification des secteurs coquilliers", "eau marine", "pollution de l'eau", "coliformes fécaux", "Tous les contenus de données applicables", "Qualité de l'eau", "Mollusque", "Classification", "Pollution de l'eau", "Eau - qualité", "Établir et gérer les zones d'intérêt ou les secteurs préoccupants", "Superviser et gérer l'état des sites", "Atlantique - Nouvelle-Écosse (NS)", "Atlantique - Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador (NL)", "Atlantique - Nouveau-Brunswick (NB)", "Québec (QC)", "Atlantique - Île-du-Prince-Édouard (PE)", "Colombie-Britannique (BC)", "National (CA)", "Direction générale des sciences et de la technologie", "Sciences et technologie; Eau", "1.2.1 Qualité de l'eau et santé des écosystèmes aquatiques", "Non Classifié"]}
open_canada_subject	["nature_and_environment"]
sensitivity_level	unrestricted
title_fr	Programme de classification des eaux coquillières (PCEC) – Classification des secteurs coquilliers au Canada
update_frequency	P6M