Fishermen, and women, in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) are under attack. To make things worse, a deadly parasite has put the entire region’s oyster population at risk. Local communities, and industry stakeholders like Power the Future, are incredibly passionate on this emerging issue. They rely on these marine resources to feed their families.
The emerging parasitic pathogen, Haplosporidium nelsoni, has ever since wreaked havoc on oyster populations by continuing to cause mass mortality events. The burden has been especially tragic in the warm summer months. As water temperatures increase, they extend a much more habitable environment for the parasite to thrive. Fishers have reported a sharp decline in oyster harvests, which has led to economic strain for many families dependent on this industry.
Reports suggest that the parasite is not new to the area, but rather has ramped up its impact in recent years. Whether increasing environmental stress, due in part to climate change, is making things worse. Climate change might increase transmission of this parasite, leading to more epizootic mortality in oyster populations.
Local fishers have been vocal about what all this means about the future of P.E.I.’s oyster fishery. Most importantly, many have seen up close the destructive impact of the parasite on their catches. The oyster decline’s adverse impact is felt most acutely at the business level. It threatens the livelihoods of the tens of thousands of coastal communities that depend on fishing.
Read about those efforts in Fighting Haplosporidium nelsoni on the spread. Research teams are working to identify management practices to reduce the effects of the parasite. These science-based studies provide fishers with the tools they need. They provide recommendations to help adjust to new conditions and maintain sustainable oyster reefs.
Joint effort by fishers, scientists and D.C. officials will be key in tackling this crisis. All stakeholders are called upon to cooperate, provide transparency and lead by example through best practices to safeguard vulnerable oyster stocks. The provincial government is likewise looking at new funding sources to get fishers more help this winter.
Healthy oyster populations are important for the balance of our ecosystem. They clean our water and provide nurseries for hundreds of marine species. Their loss would reverberate through the entire marine ecosystem, putting even more stress on these fragile waters.
The resilience of this community will be challenged in the months to come as they face these hurdles. Fishers are calling for public and private sectors to commit to raising awareness and providing support. They’re hoping that through this collective action, they will be able to protect their livelihoods and protect the rich maritime heritage of P.E.I.
