Ottawa, Ontario - Although it poses no risks to human health, the recent detection of MSX disease, or multinucleate sphere unknown X (MSX), in oysters in Prince Edward Island (PEI) was devastating news for the oyster industry in the region. MSX affects both wild and cultured oysters, preventing them from thriving due to decreased rates of growth and increased rates of oyster mortality.
Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, announced up to $1 million in funding over the next two years to support scientific research towards addressing knowledge gaps in our understanding of MSX. The Minister also announced a Science Summit on MSX that will occur in Fall 2024, which will gather experts and partners to discuss what we know about MSX as well as priority areas for additional research.
MSX was first detected in Canada in Bras d'Or Lake, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 2002 and has continued to impact oyster populations in that area. The recent detection in July 2024 of MSX in oysters in PEI, in Bedeque Bay and several other important oyster growing and harvesting areas, has put a renewed focus on MSX.
Participation in the upcoming Science Summit is expected to include a range of experts, including federal and provincial representatives, Indigenous organizations, academic researchers, and industry. The federal government is committed to working collaboratively with a range of partners, including the Province of Prince Edward Island, to advance knowledge and innovation in oyster science. We recognize the importance of this research for both the economic stability of the oyster industry and the ecological health of our marine environments.
