Oyster farmers on Prince Edward Island are facing a crisis as they are forced to remove their dead oysters from the water and stack them on roadsides and driveways. The industry has been severely impacted by MSX and dermo diseases, which are harmful to mollusks but not to humans. Fishers are devastated as they discover that all their oysters have perished when they retrieve them from the cages after winter.
Kyle Hardy, an oyster harvester, expressed the grim reality of the situation, stating that all the oysters are dead and need to be piled up away from the water to prevent the spread of parasites. Tyler Hardy, who has been in the industry since childhood, had to dispose of a significant amount of dead oysters worth around $100,000, leading him to consider alternative job opportunities like trucking.
Gordon Jeffery, a veteran in the industry for over 50 years, emphasized the urgent need for government assistance to support the struggling oyster industry. With a sense of desperation, he highlighted the financial losses incurred by disposing of dead oysters and the potential long-term impact on the industry and its workers. Concerns were also raised about the future of younger fishers who face uncertainty and limited job prospects in the face of the crisis.
The oyster growers are awaiting seed from the United States, but even if it arrives promptly, it will take three years for the seed to mature into harvestable oysters. Kyle Hardy expressed the deep-rooted family tradition in the oyster business and the lack of government support, causing frustration and disillusionment among fishers who are contemplating abandoning their livelihoods. The future of the industry hangs in the balance as growers grapple with the challenges ahead.