Prince Edward Island shellfish products are world-renowned for their distinctive flavour and high quality. Products such as Malpeque oysters and PEI mussels are indigenous to Prince Edward Island and synonymous with quality.

The PEI shellfish industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. In 1990, the landed value of PEI oysters, mussels, quahogs, and clams was $7 million. In 2001, the figure grew to $34 million. Today, the shellfish industry contributes close to $70 million to the Island’s economy and provides employment for more than 2,500 Islanders in rural and coastal communities from one end of the province to the other.

Overview of Shellfish Aquaculture on PEI
Shellfish aquaculture has a long history of development in PEI. Bottom culturing techniques for oysters have been practiced here since the late 1800’s, while water column culturing of mussels began in the 1970s. Over the past 20 years, the Shellfish Aquaculture Industry has experienced significant growth.

Shellfish aquaculture activities in PEI are conducted in nineteen bay systems around the Island. Because PEI shellfish aquaculture occurs in the natural environment, the industry has a requirement for pollution-free waters, with abundant food resources.

In PEI, the Shellfish Aquaculture Industry is largely based on the culture of blue mussels and the American oyster. Culture techniques for soft-shelled clams, quahogs, and bay scallops are also being developed.

The longline system was adopted for mussel culture in the late 1970s. The longline system consists of a buoyed backline, anchored at either end, from which mesh sleeves are suspended.
Mussel seed is either collected from the wild, or collected on frayed pieces of rope suspended in the water column. The seed mussels are loaded into mesh sleeves and suspended from the backline. The backline may be floated at the surface or weighted down to keep it a few meters below the surface.

Oyster aquaculturists use a variety of culturing techniques that accommodate local growing conditions and local aquaculture customs. Oyster culture techniques include bottom culture, rack, and bag systems (off-bottom or near bottom) and floating bag systems (suspended or water-column).

Bottom culture has traditionally been practiced by PEI oyster fishers scooping oysters with long-handled tongs and relaying them to their leases.

The rack and bag systems involves placing oyster spat in mesh bags attached to bottom tables, or in plastic trays or bags on a set of metal shelves raised slightly off the substrate.

The floating bag system involves placing oyster spat inside mesh bags with sytrofoam floatation, which are attached to an anchored longline similar to that used in the mussel industry. Many oyster growers spread their oysters on the bottom for the last one to two years of the grow-out cycle.

Over the years, PEI mussels and oysters have gained an international reputation as superior quality shellfish products. PEI’s aquaculturists are Canada’s leading producers of cultured mussels. In fact, production from PEI leases account for in excess of 80% of the mussels produced in Canada. The majority of PEI’s oysters come from the traditional fishery. However, an increasing number of Islanders are looking to aquaculture to expand production of this highly valuable shellfish. PEI is second only to British Columbia in terms of oyster production.