Feds fund tunicate fight

The federal government announced new money on Friday for research into invasive species causing big problems for mussel farmers on eastern P.E.I.

Four different species of tunicate are smothering mussel lines in that area. While the tunicate do not directly harm the mussels, they compete for the same food and make the mussels more difficult to harvest.

Ottawa is offering $400,000 to help find solutions to the problem, Peter MacKay, the cabinet minister responsible for P.E.I., announced Friday. The money will come from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The province is contributing another $200,000.

While the problem is currently worst in eastern P.E.I., it will likely spread farther if a solution is not found.