News

This article was written by Sara Fraser and originally published by CBC News on January 10, 2025 at 5:34PM ADT. We are sharing the full text here for reference. All rights remain with the original publisher.

‘We… recognize the tremendous uncertainty,’ says P.E.I. Fisheries Deptartment

Oyster producers on P.E.I. worry the provincial government is dragging its feet on MSX, saying the industry will suffer. (Brian Higgins/CBC)

The P.E.I. government says it is concerned about the potential impacts of the devastating oyster parasite MSX and is developing a “roadmap” for dealing with it.

MSX, or multinuclear sphere X, was first detected in Island waters in July 2024. While the parasite is harmless to humans, it is deadly to oysters. Initially, only a few areas were impacted, but MSX has since spread widely around the province’s coastlines.

At a legislature committee meeting Thursday, oyster industry representatives — from the P.E.I. Shellfish Association, the P.E.I. Aquaculture Alliance and the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association — urged the provincial government to take immediate action to save the vital sector amid the MSX crisis.

“We are concerned with what could happen to the oyster industry in P.E.I., and region, because of MSX, and recognize the tremendous uncertainty facing industry,” a spokesperson for the provincial Fisheries Department said in a statement sent to CBC News late Thursday afternoon.

“An MSX roadmap is being developed to identify and guide short, medium, and long-term activities and outcomes for addressing MSX.”

MSX task force formed

The province said it’s still seeking a “clear, evidence-based understanding” of how MSX spreads, its environmental triggers and its impact on oysters and the entire marine ecosystem.

The MSX parasite can stunt the growth of oysters and kill many of them. (Julien Lecacheur/Radio-Canada)

The department said it will undertake:

• Surveillance sampling.
• Research and development.
• Support programming.
• Increased staffing.

The Fisheries Department said it has started a task force with Island aquaculture and shellfish groups, co-chaired by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in the Maritimes, to discuss research, funding and other challenges around MSX.

“We are also currently working with existing hatcheries as they look to support industry,” the statement said.

The province also pointed out that shellfish diseases fall under the authority of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and DFO while maintaining the industry has the government’s support.

At Thursday’s committee meeting, shellfish harvesters said the province has been moving too slowly.

“We have appealed for assistance time and time again, explaining that the longer we wait for action the sooner we may lose our industry,” P.E.I. Shellfish Association president Bob MacLeod told the committee.

“Some type of protocol or guidance should have been initiated much earlier.”

Source: CBC News. Original article available here.