December 2, 1988 News 985-2131 Cl

H. SOUND

COUVER

+

assified 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 48 pages 25¢

FISHERY

FORCED TO CLOSE

FISHERIES AND Oceans Canada announced Wednesday
the closure of recreational and commercial crab, shrimp and
prawn fishing in the immediate vicinity of Howe Sound's
Port Mellon and Woodfibre pulp mills foliowing priority
testing for cancer-causing dioxins and furans in fish
specimens taken from around the two mills.

Department spokesman Bill
Morrell said Thursday morning the
commercial prawn opening sched-
uled for Dec, 1 would be cancelled
and the other fisheries closed based
on advice received by Fisheries and
Oceans from the Health Protection
Branch of Health and Welfare
Canada.

Following assessment of the
most recent test results coupled
with carlier results released in
May, the Health Protection
Branch advised that crabs, prawns
and shrimps taken from Wood-
fibre and Port Mellon waters could
pose a health hazard if eaten regu-
larly.

No closure was imposed on fin-
fish harvesting in Howe Sound.

Mike Nassichuk, head of water
quality for the federal fisheries
department, said levels of dioxin
and furan contamination were sim-
ilar to those found in an earlier
study.

“They confirmed that con-
tamination levels showing in the

By TIMOTHY RENSHAW
News Reporter

species sampied warranted
closure action,*’ he said.

In May a study released by the
federal government showed tevels
of the most deadly carcinogen
known to man, 2,3,7,8
tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin
(2,3,7,8 TCDD), were up to 33
limes greater than currently ac-
cepted Canadian tolerance levels in
shellfish specimens taken near
Howe Sound’s Port Mellon and
Woodfibre pulp mills.

Dioxins and furans result from
the use of chlorine in the pulp
bleaching process used at bleached
kraft pulp mills.

Nassichuck said further testing
would be done around the mills.
He added that it was difficult to
say how long the areas would stay
closed to fishing.

Wednesday’s closure comes ap-
proximately two weeks after a

the

Hikers discover
human remains

TWO HIKERS discovered the remains of a man in the
Whyte Lake area near Horseshoe Bay Saturday afternoon.

A coroner and West Vancouver
Police located the remains Mon-
day, approximately half a mile
from Whyte Lake.

A police spokesperson said in-
vestigators believe the remains to
be those of a man in his 60s and of
slight build. The spokesperson said
that foul play is not indicated as
the cause of death.

A friend of the North Van-
couver man and the Richmond
man who came upon the remains
said the dead man was wearing
yellow rain gear and that his head
and hands were missing. The
nikers also found empty food cans
and wine bottles scattered near the
remains. But the police spokesper-
son said the pieces of the body,
which were ‘‘not centrally
located,’” have been recovered.

Police found a wristwatch with
the remains and dentures tucked in

By MICHAEL BECKER
News Reporter

to the shirt pocket of a lumber-
man-type shirt. The police in-
vestigation continues.

The case of a 61-year-old Bur-
naby man, who disappeared while
hiking in the Seymour area a little
more than a year ago, remains
unresolved. A total of 490 sear-
chers, tracking dogs and
helicopters searched for more than
two weeks for Cario Musso.

But the police spokesperson said
the remains found Saturday were
not those of Musso.

Musso, who was 5°8"" tall and
weighed 175 pounds, was last seen
wearing a red golf shirt, grey rugby
slacks and running shoes. Musso
had a history of high blood
pressure.

coalition of environmental groups
and fishermen demanded a tem-
porary ban on Howe Sound
shrimp, prawn and crab harvesting
until dioxin and furan tests on
marine life throughout the sound
had been conducted and the results
released to the public.

West Vancouver resident and

Environmental Watch spokesman
Terry Jacks said Thursday the
government has taken too long to
act on the Howe Sound situation.

“Ethink pulp mills should reim-
burse the fishermen,"’ Jacks said.
“They have caused them (the fish-
ermen) to lose their livelihood. [|
think it’s a crime.”’

Wednesday. The Micra, m
he Micra driver was taken

B.C. Environment Minister
Bruce Suachan announced Thurs-
day that the province plans to
crack down on pulp mills discharg-
ing dioxins.

He stated in a press release that
the government had ‘‘for the first
See Dioxin
Page 5