Wild oyster harvesters in Atlantic Canada are being offered a federal buyout as two diseases continue to damage oyster stocks across the region.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said the spread of MSX and Dermo has created a difficult moment for small coastal operations.
MSX, short for Multinucleated Sphere Unknown, and Dermo, also known as Perkinsosis, do not affect human health or food safety, but federal officials say both diseases slow oyster growth and increase mortality.
“For harvesters who decide the time is right to permanently retire a licence or permit, this program is there to support that decision,” Thompson said.
The Oyster Licence Retirement Grant Program offers $40,000 to eligible harvesters who permanently retire their wild oyster licence or permit.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada says applicants must show at least a 50 per cent dependency on wild oyster landings and report a minimum of $3,600 in verifiable landed value.
Retired licence holders will not be able to obtain wild oyster access for 10 years, a measure the department says is meant to support long‑term recovery of wild stocks.
Agriculture and Agri‑Food Minister Heath MacDonald said the spread of disease has had a painful impact on workers who depend on the wild fishery.
“This program will help provide a path forward for harvesters during an incredibly difficult period, while giving wild oyster stocks the chance to recover,” MacDonald said.
Prince Edward Island produces more than 90 per cent of Atlantic Canada’s wild oysters, with the wild fishery making up roughly 25 to 30 per cent of the province’s oyster sector.
MSX was first confirmed in PEI in July 2024, and Dermo in July 2025.
Federal officials say other supports continue for commercial oyster growers, and access to the quahog fishery will not be affected by the buyout.
Applications for the licence‑retirement program open in September, with more details expected in the coming weeks.
