Oyster parasite MSX found in more locations on P.E.I.

The oyster parasite MSX has been detected in more prominent oyster growing and harvesting areas on P.E.I., says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The new detections are in East River, Malpeque Bay and Rustico.

MSX in an oyster will have no impact on a person that eats it, but the parasite tends to kill oysters before they are ready to harvest.

The first discovery of the parasite on the Island was in mid-July in Bedeque Bay. Later that month it was also found in Boughton River and a stretch of the North Shore west of Malpeque Bay, and then in Darnley Bay in August.

"Based on the current diagnostic and epidemiological evidence, it's shown that MSX is present or highly likely to be present in numerous bays and rivers across the marine waters of P.E.I.," said Kathy Brewer-Dalton, director general of Atlantic operationswith the CFIA.

She said the new discoveries reduce the options for the industry to manage the disease.

More primary control zones could be created to prevent the movement of oysters from infected areas to non-infected areas, but the permits and red tape required for that plan could be difficult for the industry on a day-to-day basis.

The other option would be to declare the entireIsland as an infected zone.

Areas of thenortheastern U.S.have experience with MSX going back to the 1950s.

One marine scientist described MSX as a sledgehammer that can kill 80 to 90 per cent of oysters in a population.

But oyster populations build up resistance to the parasite over time, and that process can be accelerated by importing and farming oyster spat from areas where it is endemic. Maine had success with this strategy when MSX arrived off its shores in 2002.

'We still do have an industry'

Corey Deagle, P.E.I.'s fisheries minister, said a task force made up of people from the province, the CFIA and industry groups is sharing information as new cases ariseto help minimize the spread.

He said fisheriesdepartment staff speak with the CFIA almost daily about the status of MSX on the Island.

"What I do encourage to any oyster fishers is that if you are seeing significant mortality out there to report it to our department," Deagle said.

"We do want to get out there and investigate those areas and test them and understand why there is mortality."

The fall fishery opened Sept. 15, and so far reports from fishers have been generally positive, he said.

"We still do have an industry, right?There's lots of oysters there. They are growing for the fishers," Deaglesaid.

He acknowledgedit has not been a good season for everyone, and said the province is looking into what kind of supports the industry may need in the future.

He said there are mental health supports currentlyin place for harvesters, growers and processors.