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OTTAWA – Shawn Murphy, Parliamentary Secretary to Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Minister, and Kevin MacAdam, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture of PEI, today announced joint funding for over $1 million to respond to the invasive tunicate issue in PEI and the rest of the Atlantic provinces. Invasive tunicates or ‘sea squirts’ are a type of aquatic invasive species (AIS), which pose a serious threat to our marine ecosystem.
The two levels of government and the industry have been working together to address the growing problem of tunicates. This joint effort uses a combination of funding programs and in-kind assistance to address these Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) which are a threat to the marine ecosystem in the Atlantic Provinces as well as the shell fish harvesting and aquaculture industries.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to be able to respond in a significant way to this new invasion of colonial tunicate," said Mr. Murphy. "This is an excellent example of how the Governments of Canada and P.E.I. are collaborating to support the province’s economy. Not only will this study help the mussel farmers in PEI in the short term, but it will also have long-lasting effects for the future of the industry."
"Aquatic invasives species have been a large component of our provincial work plan for the past several years", stated Minister MacAdam. "I am pleased that the federal government is making strides to recognize the potential impacts of aquatic invasives to the aquaculture industry and the marine environment. The investment in research announced today is a positive step forward to managing the issues created by aquatic invasives, and in particular the species of tunicates impacting the PEI mussel industry", concluded the Minister.
Of the total amount, the PEI government and the aquaculture industry in PEI are contributing up to $240,000 (in dollars and in kind) to the control, treatment and monitoring of tunicates. The Government of Canada is also contributing $350,000 toward risk assessment, biological research, monitoring the incidence of tunicates in PEI, and local co-ordination of research efforts.
In a second project, Canada is providing $140,000 and the Province of Prince Edward Island and its mussel industry will be providing $60,000 for a trial research study on the effectiveness of mitigation measures in removing tunicates from mussels.
Third, Canada will provide an additional $400,000 to federal researchers for the monitoring of tunicates and other invasive species in the maritime areas of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and Quebec.
The Honourable Lawrence MacAuley, Member of Parliament for Cardigan, Prince Edward Island, also welcomed the news of the funding. "I am proud that Prince Edward Island will be the testing grounds for this research that will have applications all over the Atlantic and the rest of Canada. It will help us find out about the impacts of the tunicates, how they are introduced to Canadian waters and how they become established"
AIS can pose a serious threat to native ecosystems, by competing with native species for space and food. They reproduce quickly because of a lack of natural controls, and can rapidly cover aquaculture gear, floating docks, the hulls of boats, sea bottom and vegetation. There are no health issues for consumers associated with tunicates or mussels.
However, the costs to produce shellfish can increase dramatically which can make shellfish farming ventures unprofitable. Better methods must be found to manage the tunicates or lessen their impacts.
Since 1998, with the introduction of the clubbed tunicate into the waters of PEI, the issue of controlling invasive species has become a priority with the aquaculture industry of PEI. Mussel aquaculture in PEI employs about 1500 persons and has an annual harvest value of over $23 million.
A Task Force will also be established with senior officials of the governments of Canada and P.E.I. The recommendations of the Task Force will provide key direction to future action on aquaculture invasive species and assist all Atlantic shellfish farmers.
Many stakeholders will benefit from the results of this proposed research, including shellfish growers, fishers and the general public. Using the lessons learned in these specific projects on tunicates, the case study approach can also be applied to other aquatic invasive species that are threatening Canadian ecosystems.
Backgrounders:
Tunicates Project In PEI – Rapid Response For AIS
Tunicates Research ‘A Case Study Of Tunicates In Maritime Canada’
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Sophie Galarneau
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 990-7537
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Sujata Raisinghani
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-3474
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For the PEI Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture:
Wayne McKinnon
(902) 368-4888 |
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NR-HQ-05-83E |
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