Latest news with #EgmontBay
CBC
a day ago
- Health
- CBC
'It's a pretty scary time': Oyster industry on edge after dermo found in Egmont Bay
The president of the P.E.I. Shellfish Association says the oyster industry is rightfully concerned about the first case of dermo disease in P.E.I. But Bob MacLeod said there is no reason for panic. "It's a pretty scary time for our industry right now," MacLeod said Saturday. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced on Friday that lab tests confirmed the presence of dermo — a highly damaging mollusc disease — in oysters from P.E.I.'s Egmont Bay. As a result, the CFIA could take control of how oysters are handled and shipped in that area to help limit the spread of the disease. MacLeod said that areas closing down will make fishers have to move to other rivers, which can cost them more money. "It affects every other fisherman on the Island because everyone's got to make a living, so everyone's gotta move around," he said. "It either affects that you gotta share … your river or it affects your cost because you have to travel further." There were approximately 600-700 licensed oyster fishers on P.E.I. as of October 2024, and many more wild oyster fishers, including MacLeod. "Even if it's a river that I don't fish in, somebody fishes in it." Moving forward The discovery of dermo in Island oysters comes one year after MSX, short for multinucleate sphere unknown, was discovered in Bedeque Bay. More cases were confirmed elsewhere in the province in the months that followed. "It's really challenging, hard on the head, very stressful and a lot of people's struggling over this," said MacLeod. He says the association's main objective is to enhance the industry, but that's difficult because of how limited they are in moving oysters from one area to another. He hopes the government will step up to support and compensate Island fishers. "Everyone's self-employed in this, and it's not the fault of the fishermen that these diseases [are] here," he said. With the right support, and some time, he thinks the industry can get past this hurdle. "We're talking a few years down the road to bring it back, but we can bring it back cause we have various [areas] not hit yet.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Detection of Dermo in oysters in Prince Edward Island
OTTAWA, ON, July 4, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the aquatic animal disease Dermo (also known as Perkinsosis) in oyster samples collected in Egmont Bay, Prince Edward Island (PEI). Dermo does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, but it can cause increased oyster mortality and decreased growth rates. This is the first confirmed case of Dermo in PEI. To limit the spread of the disease, the CFIA, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Province of PEI are working together with partners to monitor the situation and take necessary action. These actions are part of the Government of Canada's One Health approach to prepare for, detect, and manage animal diseases. In addition to existing robust protective measures and increased animal surveillance, the CFIA, DFO and the Province of PEI continue to conduct activities to gain insight into the presence of Dermo in the area. At this time, these response measures include: Quick Facts Related links Follow us on social media Facebook: CFIACanada X: @InspectionCan YouTube: @CFIA Instagram: @CFIA_Canada LinkedIn: Canadian Food Inspection Agency Each day, hard-working Canadian Food Inspection Agency employees—including inspectors, veterinarians, and scientists—inspect food for safety risks, work to protect plants from pests and invasive species, and respond to animal diseases that could threaten Canada's animal resource base and human health. Guided by science-based decision-making and modern regulations, the Agency verifies that food sold in Canada is safe while supporting access to international markets for our high-quality agricultural products. To learn more, visit SOURCE Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
CFIA confirms Prince Edward Island's 1st case of dermo, in oysters from Egmont Bay
Canadian Food Inspection Agency lab tests have confirmed the presence of the highly damaging mollusc disease dermo in oysters from P.E.I.'s Egmont Bay. "This is the first confirmed case of dermo in P.E.I.," the agency said in a news release issued Friday evening. "Dermo does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, but it can cause increased oyster mortality and decreased growth rates." In a separate email, CFIA also said that tests had confirmed the first cases of both dermo and MSX for the province of Quebec, in oyster samples collected in Chaleur Bay. It's been eight months since what was considered the first detection of dermo in Canadian waters, in oysters from Spence Cove, about five kilometres west of the Confederation Bridge in New Brunswick. Dermo disease or Perkinsosis, caused by a parasite called Perkinsus marinus, had previously been detected in Atlantic waters between Mexico and Maine. It affects both cultured and wild American oysters (Crassostrea virginica). "Outbreaks of Perkinsosis usually occur with warm summer water temperatures above 20 C," a British government fact sheet on the disease says. "Clinical signs may include pale digestive glands, gaping, shrinking of the mantle away from the outer edge of the shell and stunted growth." The CFIA news release said dermo "does not affect other bivalves in this area, including mussels, scallops or clams." Already dealing with MSX News of the positive test results from Egmont Bay will be another blow to the Island's oyster industry, which has been reeling from last July's discovery of MSX, short for multinucleate sphere unknown. That oyster disease was first detected in samples from P.E.I.'s Bedeque Bay, with more cases confirmed in other areas of the province in the months that followed. Like dermo, it affects only oysters and not the humans eating oysters from waters known to have MSX. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the parasite that causes dermo is easily transmitted among oysters, mostly when they are between one and three years of age. "Mortality rates are variable but are typically 50 per cent to 75 per cent," the agency says in a factsheet on its website. CFIA has power to limit movement In a statement to CBC News last month, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency acknowledged that it had been asked to test P.E.I. oyster samples for dermo, but said it had no results to share at that time. The agency did go on to outline what would happen if the samples did test positive. If a product in a PCZ [primary control zone] is deemed to be a potential risk, its movement would be controlled. — Canadian Food Inspection Agency "To prevent the spread of dermo or any other animal diseases, the CFIA may establish a primary control zone (PCZ) in areas where a disease is suspected to occur," the statement said. That kind of move would let the agency control how oysters are handled and shipped within and outside the zone. "For example, if a product in a PCZ is deemed to be a potential risk, its movement would be controlled; this means that a permit from the CFIA would be required to move this product within, through and outside of the PCZ," the statement said. "Any new PCZs would be posted as soon as possible on CFIA's website. When a new PCZ is put in place, the CFIA also notifies its provincial partners, stakeholders, Indigenous communities and industry through pre-existing communications channels."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
CFIA confirms 1st P.E.I. case of dermo, in oysters from Egmont Bay
Canadian Food Inspection Agency lab tests have confirmed the presence of the highly damaging mollusc disease dermo in oysters from P.E.I.'s Egmont Bay. "This is the first confirmed case of dermo in P.E.I.," the agency said in a news release issued Friday evening. "Dermo does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, but it can cause increased oyster mortality and decreased growth rates." It's been eight months since what was considered the first detection of the disease in Canadian waters, in oysters from Spence Cove, about five kilometres west of the Confederation Bridge in New Brunswick. Dermo disease or Perkinsosis, caused by a parasite called Perkinsus marinus, had previously been detected in Atlantic waters between Mexico and Maine. "Outbreaks of Perkinsosis usually occur with warm summer water temperatures above 20 C," a British government fact sheet on the disease says. "Clinical signs may include pale digestive glands, gaping, shrinking of the mantle away from the outer edge of the shell and stunted growth." The CFIA said dermo "does not affect other bivalves in this area, including mussels, scallops, or clams." Already dealing with MSX News of the positive test results from Egmont Bay will be another blow to the Island's oyster industry, which has been reeling from last July's discovery of MSX, short for multinucleate sphere unknown. That oyster disease was first detected in samples from P.E.I.'s Bedeque Bay, with more cases confirmed in other areas of the province in the months that followed. Like dermo, it affects only oysters and not the humans eating oysters from waters known to have MSX. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the parasite that causes dermo is easily transmitted among oysters, mostly when they are between one and three years of age. "Mortality rates are variable but are typically 50 per cent to 75 per cent," the agency says in a factsheet on its website. CFIA has power to limit movement In a statement to CBC News last month, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency acknowledged that it had been asked to test P.E.I. oyster samples for dermo, but said it had no results to share at that time. The agency did go on to outline what would happen if the samples did test positive. If a product in a PCZ [primary control zone] is deemed to be a potential risk, its movement would be controlled. — Canadian Food Inspection Agency "To prevent the spread of dermo or any other animal diseases, the CFIA may establish a primary control zone (PCZ) in areas where a disease is suspected to occur," the statement said. That kind of move would let the agency control how oysters are handled and shipped within and outside the zone. "For example, if a product in a PCZ is deemed to be a potential risk, its movement would be controlled; this means that a permit from the CFIA would be required to move this product within, through and outside of the PCZ," the statement said. "Any new PCZs would be posted as soon as possible on CFIA's website. When a new PCZ is put in place, the CFIA also notifies its provincial partners, stakeholders, Indigenous communities and industry through pre-existing communications channels."
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Aquatic animal disease found in P.E.I. oyster samples
Oysters harvested in Canada are seen at Bryan Szeliga's Fishtown Seafood in Haddonfield, N.J., Thursday, March 6, 2025. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has found Dermo, an aquatic animal disease, in oyster samples collected in Egmont Bay, P.E.I. Dermo, also known as Perkinsosis, does not pose a health risk to people, but it can decrease growth rates for oysters and increase their mortality, according to a news release from the agency. This is the first confirmed case of Dermo on P.E.I. 'To limit the spread of the disease, the CFIA, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Province of PEI are working together with partners to monitor the situation and take necessary action,' the release reads. 'These actions are part of the Government of Canada's One Health approach to prepare for, detect, and manage animal diseases.' The agency will apply movement controls to oysters in the area, investigate the possible source of the detection and monitor mollusc health. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
