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Mussel Monitoring Program

The Prince Edward Island Mussel Monitoring Program (MMP) is a service provided to cultured mussel growers and processors by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture. The MMP has operated annually since 1982 during the ice free season providing mussel growers with a variety of information to assist them in the management of their operations.

The MMP focuses primarily on mussel spatfall prediction, mussel meat yield analysis, water temperature evaluation, the detection and estimation of the numbers of potentially toxic algae species and the monitoring of predators and fouling organisms. The program also provides mussel processing plants with information such as mussel meat quality at harvest which assists the processor in providing the consumer with a quality product.

Weekly results of the mussel spat surveys can be found on this website or by calling the Mussel Monitoring Program's toll free number, 1-800-454-3233 or 368-6510 (local Charlottetown). Below is a list of the areas and corresponding rivers and estuaries.

Area 1 Murray River

Area 2 St.Mary's Bay, Montague River, Brudenell River

Area 3 Boughton River, Cardigan River

Area 4 St. Peter's Bay

Area 5 Tracadie Bay, Winter Bay, Savage Harbour

Area 6 Covehead Bay, Rustico Bay, Hunter River, Hope River

Area 7 New London Bay, French River, South West River, Stanley River

Area 8 Malpaque Bay, Lennox Channel, Bentick Cove, Darnley Basin, Baltic River

Area 9 North Lake, South Lake, Souris River, Nine Mile Creek

For a list of annual reports from the MMP please see the technical reports section.

Contact Gary Smith or phone at 902-368-5616 for more information on the program.

Mussel Monitoring Program Results