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

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." 

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.

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]." 

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."