Vancouver oil spill stops recreational shellfish and groundfish fishing

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has closed Burrard Inlet in Vancouver to all recreational fishing for shellfish and groundfish, due to the English Bayoil spill last week.

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The closure is a "precautionary measure" and effective immediately until further notice, according to a notice issued Tuesday by DFO, six days after the spill.

It covers all waters of Burrard Inlet from Lions Gate Bridge to the mouth of the Georgia Strait, as defined by the line between Point Atkinson in West Vancouver and Point Grey in Vancouver.

That would include Jericho Beach, a popular spot on Vancouver's West Side for people to catch crabs recreationally.

Recreational fishing is already closed year round east of that, between Lions Gate Bridge and the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge at Second Narrows, wrote DFO.

MAP: Fisheries closure and locations of oil on beaches