Shellfish 101

Fishing has played an integral role in life of Islanders since the earliest of times. First, it was for reasons of survival. Then, the abundant stocks of groundfish and shellfish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence became a way of life. Fishing has always been one of the foundations of the Island's economy, and is the province's oldest organized industry.

There are more than 4,500 fisherman and crew engaged in commercial fishing and the aquaculture industry is one of Prince Edward Island's top industries. With a landed value of catch over 170 million dollars, and with a population of 138,000 the province is not able to absorb this production. Therefore much of it is marketed within Canada and exported to international markets.

The aquaculture sector on PEI has a short, but exciting history. In the past decade, the sector has grown from a small developmental industry with a landed value of less than $5 million to an industry under full commercial production and a landed value in excess of $30 million. The Island industry primarily involves the culture of mussels, oysters and salmonids.

There are 60 processing plants in Prince Edward Island exporting product on and off the Island. Products processed on PEI inclued lobster, oysters, scallops, flounder, cod, snow crab, rock crab, toad crab, hake, eels, herring, mackerel, smelts, tuna, quahaugs, clams (soft-shell and surf), silversides, mussels, trout, salmon, char, whelks (escargot), and marine plants.

The Prince Edward Island Shellfish Festival celebrates the indsutry, hard work of the fisherman and the fun of a good "Kitchen Party". Join us this fall on the Historic Charlottetown Waterfront.