With millions of dead oysters and mounting debt, P.E.I. farmers fear they'll lose everything
Oyster farmers in Prince Edward Island are facing a crisis as two parasitic diseases, MSX and dermo, have caused near-total mortality rates in their stocks. Farmers are calling for sustained government financial support to survive the loss of their crops and the burden of mounting debt.
Why it matters
The collapse of the oyster industry threatens the livelihoods of local farmers and the economic stability of coastal communities reliant on aquaculture.
“Being out here, I feel my father close,” said Kaila, who took over the farm in the Dock River, near Alberton, with her husband Bruce Richard.
“[When] we make mistakes, I can hear my dad saying, 'What are yous doing?!' … and when things go right I'm like, ‘Oh he'd be so proud,’” she told CBC Radio’s The Current .
The Richards took out hefty loans to upgrade the farm in recent years, installing expensive new equipment and spending long days tending their crop. But all that hard work is in jeopardy as two diseases rip through the Island’s oyster industry.
Farmers have pulled up millions of dead oysters, their shells piled high around P.E.I.
“The whole island is just a massacre at this point,” said Bruce.
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