Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance ~ Growers

	Mandate
	Objectives
	Environmental Policy

	Oyster
	Mussel
	Finfish

	R&D priorities
	R&D Coordinator
	R&D funding agencies

	Species
	Health & Nutrition
	Benefits of Eating Finfish
	Benefits of Eating Shellfish
	Market Forms of Seafood
	Grades of Oysters
	Buying Fresh Seafood
	Basic Cooking Methods
	Recipes
	Care & Storage of Seafood
	Sources & References

Shellfish
Shellfish aquaculture has a long history of development in PEI. Bottom culturing techniques for oysters have been practised here since the late 1800's, while water column culturing of mussels began in the 1970's. Over the past 25 years, the shellfish aquaculture industry has experienced significant growth.

Shellfish aquaculture activities in PEI are conducted in nineteen bay systems around the Island. Because PEI shellfish aquaculture occurs in the natural environment, the industry has a requirement for pollution-free waters with abundant food resources.

In PEI, the shellfish aquaculture industry is largely based on the culture of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and the American oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Culture techniques for soft-shelled clams (Mya arenaria) and quahaugs (Mercenaria mercenaria) have been in development since the mid-1990’s while those for sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) and bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) are a more recent endeavour.

The PEI Cultured Mussel Growers Association
Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are the predominant aquaculture species on Prince Edward Island. The Island mussel culture industry supplies 80% of the mussels in the North American market. In 2002, more than 37 million pounds were produced for a farm gate value of more than 22 million dollars. The mussel industry directly employs 1500 people with over 2500 indirect or associate supply and service jobs.

Mussel culture occurs in many of the rivers and estuaries in Prince Edward Island. However, the majority of the culture areas are concentrated along the Northern and Eastern coasts. Mussel leases account for a total of 10,300 acres.

In the mid to late 1970's, experimentation and pilot scale production of suspended culture of the blue mussel was successfully introduced to PEI. Borrowing culturing technology from around the world, and encouraged by the popularity of a bottom-cultured product from northeastern USA in accessible markets, the concept of a mussel industry in PEI gained momentum. There was eager technical and financial support for primary resource industry development by the PEI Fisheries Department through the comprehensive development plan. This support, along with readily available water sites through Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) leasing, federal research initiative and enterprising individuals, provided the fledgling industry with a good foundation.

There were growing pains in the first few years, but the industry has always been stepping forward since its beginnings; slowly in the 1980's to a rapid growth in the 1990's. Early in 1981, a number of growers, realizing the potential of the industry, began discussions on the need for organized structure for continued growth. Both federal and provincial government agencies wanted to deal with an industry group to deliver support programs. The industry was growing but there was little infrastructure to support the expansion.

On March 26, 1981, the PEI Cultured Mussel Growers Association (PEICMGA) was formed, with the objective to advance the promotion and well being of the cultured mussel industry in PEI, and those individuals engaged in it. The association provided a forum for growers to come together to discuss the various aspects, concerns and problems they encountered in the industry and how best to direct their efforts to resolving those issues. At the time the association was formed, there were no specialized mussel processing plants on PEI. The packaging, handling and shipping of the live product were unknown or unproven techniques. The aspects of market size, share, consumer preferences, and price had not been looked into with any great detail. While the PEICMGA did not directly resolve most of the major issues in the early days of the industry, it did have involvement.

The PEICGMA has and still enjoys a close relationship with the provincial government and this is especially so with the PEI Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (PEIDFA). During the early 1980's, considerable funding was available; in respect to the size of the industry then, for numerous assistance and technical support programs, loan guarantees, grants and marketing development. The association provided the ideas and concerns and the government responded well to the industry's needs. If there was one single item that could be recognized for both the success of the industry and the association it would have to be the enterprising and hard working people involved. Some are gone from the early years, but many have endured and continued to provide positive development and leadership in today's industry.

Today, there are seven mussel processing plants of various production levels handling close to 35 million pounds of PEI cultured mussels. While the focus is on a live product, some secondary processing is now being done. The product is recognized as the best mussel in the early years of the industry.

There were many enterprising individuals who deserve credit for developing the industry. The exchange of ideas and concerns within the Association, coupled with a close relationship with the PEI Government (esp. PEIDFA), initiated many of the major developments within the industry. The PEICGMA has grown with the industry and continues to work on many of the issues that were of concerns in the early years. The industry was fortunate to have a very well developed lease zoning policy in the 1980's. The program faltered with limited funding in the 1990's but the association is working with the federal and provincial governments to revise it as well to develop a uniform lease marking policy.

In 1997, the PEICMGA and other aquaculture groups worked together to develop the PEI Aquaculture Alliance to have a full time director to look after the aquaculture industry's needs. The PEICMGA today, works closely with the Aquaculture Alliance to resolve the issues of the day. The association and the alliance completed the PEI Shellfish Environmental Code of Practice (SAECOP) in 2002 for the shellfish industry. The association is governed by "River Directors" representing as equal of coverage as possible of call growing area Directors bring problems and concerns to meeting to discuss a plan of action or to pass it along to the Alliance for further follow-up. The PEICMGA now has over 90 members and is growing each year. The association looks to the future with optimism for the PEI Cultured Mussel industry.

Island Oyster Growers Group
The American oyster has a long history of production in Prince Edward Island. Currently, there are 477 leaseholders accounting for a total of 6,481 acres of oyster leases. Approximately 20% of P.E.I.'s oyster production is from aquaculture leases.

The bulk of production originates from public beds. However, many of the beds are enhanced using aquaculture techniques. As well, a large portion of PEI's oysters are stored on dealer's leases prior to sale to the market.

PEI oyster aquaculturists have been evaluating alternate oyster production techniques such as rack and bag and longline floating bags for almost 15 years. These technologies can cut two to three years off of the time it traditionally took to grow a market size oyster (75 mm on PEI).

The Island Oyster Growers Group incorporated in the early 1990’s from existing oyster fisherman who were interested in expanding their efforts into such aspects as policy, and growout research and development methods. PEI’s oyster growers, with their reputation for quality Malpeque oysters, are well positioned to contribute to a projected increase in Canadian oyster production for years to come.

PEI Finfish Growers Association
There is a small but vibrant finfish aquaculture industry in PEI. Various species such as Rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon and Arctic Charr are grown. Finfish culture on PEI occurs in pond cages and land-based tank systems. The estuaries that surround the Island are shallow and not conducive to cage culture due to seasonal temperature extremes.

There are 7 culture sites accounting for a value of approximately 5 million annually. The strength of the industry is in its hatchery production. Ova, fry and smolts are exported to destinations in Atlantic Canada and around the world.

The first finfish farmers association on PEI was the PEI Trout Growers Association, which formed in the late 1970’s. Many of these members started expanding into other species such as Arctic Charr in the late 1980’s and then Atlantic salmon in the early 1990’s. As a result, they felt that a name change was needed to reflect the variety of species being produced and thus the PEI Finfish Growers Association was formed in 2000. There are currently seven individuals/companies who are members of the PEI Finfish Growers Association.

Other Species
Some species are in the developmental stage of culture including soft shell clams (Mya arenaria), quahaugs (Mercenaria mercenaria), sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) and striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Aquaculture and husbandry efforts at growing soft-shell clams and quahaugs have met with reasonable success over the last 10 years on PEI, but production is currently limited to a handful of growers. The viability of these species both from an economic and biological standpoint is being investigated. The PEI Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is playing a direct role in these efforts by conducting trials or providing assistance on trials being conducted by industry.