He says that due to the spontaneous nature of toxic phytoplankton blooms it is impossible to delineate closure boundaries exactly. The decision to close an area not only involves the upper limit criteria from site samples, but also the dynamics of the algae bloom. By the time we perceive a noticeable color change in the water, commonly known as red tide, bivalves may have accumulated algae to toxic levels. And not all red algae produce harmful toxins. Fact is that we can't perceive the dangers of PSP or ASP while paddling in our kayaks or walking on the beach.
Science is years away from developing a field litmus test for measuring marine biotoxin.
Until then a healthy measure of caution is needed to ensure a safe trip. Check area and sub-area postings and notices for current warnings and closures found at regional DFO offices. Rupert Wong is a professional biologist working in the area of fish habitat restoration. He is the owner of West Coast Expeditions , a well established eco-tour company specializing in family oriented educational paddling programs.