In 1998, following an outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) linked to BC oysters, a BC risk reduction strategy was implemented. As part of the strategy, the CFIA established environmental Vp indicator stations, which were used to assist the shellfish industry in determining the timeframe of the Vp season in B.C., by indicating when and to what extent the hazard of Vp was present in a particular location. As soon as the nearest CFIA environmental indicator station for an area showed Vp levels greater than 100 MPN/g, processors intending to harvest or buy oyster shellstock from the affected area were required to ensure Vp-specific control measures were in place to provide reasonable assurance that the product would meet food safety guidelines. Sampling began at indicator stations in early May until the end of the Vp season (which was defined as when a site showed two consecutive weeks of Vp results under 3 MPN/g in September/October). This risk reduction strategy was in place from 1998 through 2013. A nationwide modernized Vp approach was implemented in 2014, at which time the CFIA's Vp indicator stations were discontinued.
This dataset represents the information collected and generated by the CFIA from the environmental indicator stations. Where data for a particular field was not provided/collected for a sample, this is denoted as Not Available (N/A) within the data set.