NOVA SCOTIAN PLANS TO REVITALISE OYSTER INDUSTRY

Nova Scotian plans to revitalise oyster industry. The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia (NS) have announced funding support to the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment (the Centre) through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF).

On behalf of the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister Murray and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, and the Honourable Steve Craig, Nova Scotia Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced a total contribution of over $2 million to help the Verschuren Centre with the development of a land-based oyster hatchery. Once open, the hatchery will prepare broodstock and provide healthy seed, followed by facility decontamination of equipment and water, which prevents unnecessary spread of MSX (an oyster parasite) between oyster aquaculture sites.

Funding this project addresses two of the main priorities for oyster growers in Nova Scotia for the past 15 years: finding a way to address concerns and the spread of MSX and a lack of oyster seed. The lab-based process established at the Centre will reduce parasite prevalence and intensity in MSX infected oysters resulting in almost zero mortality. For oyster producers in Cape Breton, on the Bras d’Or Lake, this work is especially welcome as the oyster industry in that area has been devastated by the MSX parasite – at one time Bras d’Or Lake accounted for approximately 80% of oyster landings in Nova Scotia. Healthy, parasite-free oyster larvae from the Centre will allow the once rich oyster industry on the Bras d’Or Lakes to rebuild and return much needed economic stability to the local community.

Funding the Centre will benefit local and regional economies in NS now and in the future. The contribution comes from the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fund, jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, and focuses on increasing opportunities and market value for sustainably sourced, high-quality fish and seafood products from Atlantic Canada.

The Atlantic Fisheries Fund is in its fifth year and will continue to invest in projects over the seven-year life of the programme. The commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry, Indigenous groups, academia, industry associations and organisations, including research institutions, may apply.

Joyce Murray said:

“The Atlantic Fisheries Fund is enabling innovative ways to harvest, process and deliver high-quality, sustainably sourced fish and seafood from the commercial fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The exciting work happening at the Verschuren Centre is key to the revitalisation of a once thriving oyster industry in the Bras d’Or Lake, and a welcome infusion of high-quality oyster into Nova Scotia’s fish and seafood sector.”

Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, said:

“As a proud resident and representative of Cape Breton, I am deeply appreciative of the work that the Verschuren Centre will undertake to help revive a once vital and thriving community-based industry. Gathering together for a meal of fresh seafood – including oysters – is a tradition for many Nova Scotians, and I look forward to the day when Bras d’Or Lake oysters are part of that tradition once again.”

The Honourable Steve Craig, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nova Scotia, said:

“This investment is a positive step to re-establishing a strong local oyster industry in Cape Breton. It will help the Nova Scotia seafood industry remain safe and sustainable and provide top-quality seafood products to the world. We are excited to join with our federal and industry partners in these important investments.”