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P.E.I. oyster harvesters call for regular updates on harmful parasite

This article was written by Stephen Brun and originally published by CBC News on July 21, 2024 at 5:46PM ADT. We are sharing the full text here for reference. All rights remain with the original publisher.

‘We all have to work together,’ says shellfish association’s executive director

Freshly caught PEI oysters with seaweed. MSX is a major concern to oyster harvesters in the province, says P.E.I. Shellfish Association president Bob MacLeod. (Brittany Spencer/CBC)

Confusion and concern are growing among P.E.I. oyster harvesters with the news that three more sites in the province have seen presumptive positive test results for a harmful parasite.

The parasite in question is multinuclear sphere X (MSX), which was confirmed to be affecting oysters in Bedeque Bay last week.

“It’s definitely a major concern,” said Bob MacLeod, president of the P.E.I. Shellfish Association, the group that represents wild oyster fishers on the Island. “In this area, there’s a lot of families [that] rely on the shell fishery.

“There’s husbands and wives, that’s all they have, and this is the backbone to our whole community, the whole Island in general, but … the population that depends on this is tremendous.”

More oyster licences on P.E.I. placed under quarantine

Oyster bar owners on P.E.I. say future of industry could be at stake due to MSX parasite

MSX is not harmful to humans and the oysters are safe to eat. But the parasite can slow the growth of oysters and kill some of them.

Late Friday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said three additional P.E.I. oyster leases have been placed under quarantine after presumptive positive test results for MSX. The results are presumed but not confirmed to be positive and will require further genetic testing.

The CFIA did not share the locations of the leases, citing privacy concerns.

A woman with long light hair and a floral patterned shirt stands in front of a fishing boat.

Jolene Millar, executive director of the P.E.I. Shellfish Association, says no one is certain how MSX spreads among oysters. (Victoria Walton/CBC)

That privacy, and the wait for more test results, has harvesters asking questions, said Jolene Millar, the shellfish association’s executive director.

“We’ve been sending emails to CFIA just asking what rivers they’ve been testing,” she said. “If we knew what rivers they were testing … then at least the shellfish association could relay that to the fishermen asking us.”

Among the many uncertainties surrounding the detection of MSX is how it spreads. It had never been spotted north of Maine until 2002 when it was detected in Cape Breton. It has affected the industry there ever since.

“They don’t know how it’s being transferred,” said Millar. “Two oysters could be beside each other. One could have MSX, the other one [not].”

A man with short grey hair, a mustache and glasses speaks in front of a fishing wharf. Bob MacLeod hopes harvesters will be able to ship oysters this week. (Victoria Walton/CBC)

MacLeod said the association would like to get daily reports from the CFIA about where testing is happening. His own oysters have also been tested, and he hopes to have results this week.

Oysters currently can’t be harvested from quarantined areas, but he hopes that will be allowed by Tuesday when processors and restaurants place their orders for the shellfish.

“There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to [harvest],” MacLeod said. “If they’re coming right off the bottom and into the warehouse and going directly to the consumer, with no harm to the consumer, they should be able to harvest them.”

‘Keep the industry going’

While harvesters wait for more information, Millar hopes Islanders continue to support the industry.

“Right now is a time where we all have to work together and it not be the blame game,” she said.

“The fishermen have to work with the buyers. [For] ourselves: buy oysters, they’re not harmful, eat them. If you go out for an evening, get appetizers, buy the oysters. Keep the oyster industry going.”

Source: CBC News. Original article available here.

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P.E.I. oyster harvesters call for regular updates on harmful parasite

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