P.E.I. offering $3 million to oyster fishers impacted by MSX, Dermo

The Prince Edward Island government is offering up to $3 million to fishers, growers and processors who suffered significant losses from MSX and Dermo.

The government said the Oyster Industry Relief Program will cover interest costs on debt loans taken out before May 1 for people who experienced losses of at least 30 per cent.

They are also launching the Oyster Relief Wage Assistance Program to offset a portion of payroll costs connected to sorting and handling requirements. It has a $1.46-million budget.

“These measures are designed to reduce financial strain, allowing businesses to focus on adapting while longer-term solutions are developed,” a news release from the government reads. “Application processes will be streamlined to ensure timely and efficient delivery of funding across all programs.”

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), MSX (also known as multinucleate sphere unknown) was first detected around Bedeque Bay, P.E.I., in July 2024.

Dermo (also known as Perkinsosis) was found in oyster samples in Egmont Bay in July 2025.

The CFIA says MSX and Dermo do not pose a health risk to humans, but they can increase oyster mortality and lower growth rates.

Along with P.E.I., MSX and Dermo have been found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec.

Last September, the CFIA said oysters that are not ready for the commercial market are not allowed to be moved outside of those provinces.

To support oyster fishers, the P.E.I. government previously launched the Oyster Fishers Training Fund and the Oyster Growers Income Stabilization Program, the latter of which approved $1.17 million to 33 oyster growers in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

The province says it has provided more than $12 million to the oyster industry since the discovery of MSX and Dermo.

There are more than 250 active oyster fishers, 300 oyster growers and 18 oyster processors in P.E.I. In 2024, the industry generated $27 million in 2024.

For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.