September 9, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI) – Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced the $1.1 million Accelerating the Development of MSX-Resistant Oyster Seed Project led by Atlantic Aqua Farms.
This project will develop oyster strains resistant to Multinucleate Sphere Unknown (MSX) disease, a significant threat to shellfish aquaculture that has caused devastating losses in oyster-growing regions, including mortality rates exceeding 95 percent in parts of western PEI, and spreading eastward. In parallel, it will equip the industry with new tools to better understand, predict, and combat the disease by generating an MSX disease model and identifying key biological markers associated with oyster immune responses. Together, these advances will help strengthen the resilience, sustainability, and long-term viability of Canada’s oyster industry.
The project is led by Charlottetown, PEI-based Atlantic Aqua Farms in partnership with Onda in Souris, PEI and CAT Genetics Canada, also in Souris, PEI. With a total project value of $1.1 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $471,000, with the balance of funding coming from project partners.
With the oyster industry valued at approximately $60 million annually in Prince Edward Island alone, combined with shellfish aquaculture being one of the most environmentally sustainable methods of food production, this project will help secure a sustainable domestic food source while growing the ocean economy. By addressing one of the most significant disease threats facing oyster aquaculture, this project represents an important investment in the future of Canada’s seafood sector and the sustainable growth of the global ocean economy, positioning Canada at the forefront of shellfish disease management.
Through Ambition 2035 and together with Canada’s ocean community, we are bold in our ambition to grow Canada’s ocean economy 5X to $220 billion by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made-in-Canada ocean solutions will help us realize this ambition. Read more about recommendations to help achieve this transformational growth opportunity outlined in Charting the Course to 5X Growth in Canada’s Ocean Economy and the projected benefits to Canada here.
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Media Contacts
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in blue food, arctic and security, ocean energy, and marine decarbonization, while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved 160 projects valued at more than $600 million, which will deliver more than 300 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. Every dollar invested in Ocean Supercluster projects generates more than five times its value in GDP contribution, with the following economic benefits to Canada as of March 2025:
- $1.7 billion in total economic output
- $1 billion in GDP contribution
- ️Nearly $748 million in total labour income
- ️Close to 10,000 jobs created
- ️$286 million in total tax revenues generated
Quotes
“Innovation is vital for the competitiveness and resilience of Canada’s ocean economy. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, one of Canada’s global innovation clusters, is supporting Atlantic Aqua Farms and its partners in developing disease-resistant oyster strains and advanced tools to protect Canada’s oyster industry. Through this project, we are strengthening sustainable aquaculture, supporting food security and creating opportunities for workers and communities across Atlantic Canada.” – The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
“Oyster growers in Prince Edward Island have shown incredible resilience in the face of the MSX outbreak. This investment will help deliver the science, technology, and partnerships needed to confront this challenge head-on. By supporting innovation in our aquaculture sector today, we are helping protect jobs, strengthen coastal communities, and build a more sustainable future for one of PEI’s most important industries.” – The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“Innovation is essential to ensuring Canada’s food systems remain resilient in the face of climate change and emerging disease threats. Through this investment, we are supporting breakthrough research that will not only help protect our oyster industry, but also position Canada as a leader in sustainable shellfish aquaculture. The development of MSX-resistant oysters represents an important step toward securing economic growth, supporting coastal livelihoods, and providing a reliable source of sustainable protein for generations to come.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“Atlantic Aqua Farms is very pleased to be partnering with Onda and CAT Genetics Canada on the project ‘Accelerating the Development of MSX-resistant Oyster Seed’ funded through Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. This funding has allowed us to initiate a PEI-based oyster breeding program using tools for genomic selection. This is an important part of our multi-faceted approach to finding solutions to the MSX crisis that Atlantic Canada is currently facing. The MSX oyster pathogen is causing mortalities >95% on some PEI oyster farms. Development of a PEI-based breeding program is a long-term solution, and external funding is critical, given the delayed return-on-investment through this approach.”- Meredith White, Director of Hatchery Operations, Atlantic Aqua Farms
“Improving disease resilience is critical to the long-term sustainability and growth of oyster farming in Atlantic Canada. This project brings together complementary expertise from across the aquaculture sector to tackle MSX with tools that can ultimately make a difference on the farm. We are excited to work alongside Atlantic Aqua Farms and Onda to translate advances in genetics and disease research into practical solutions for oyster producers, and we appreciate the support of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster in making this collaboration possible.” – Debbie Plouffe, Vice President of Business Development, Center for Aquaculture Technologies
“MSX and Dermo are not challenges that any one company, farm, or organization is going to solve alone. PEI’s oyster industry has always been built on a strong sense of community, and we believe the response to MSX needs to reflect that same spirit. This project brings together genetics, disease research, hatchery expertise and on-farm experience around a shared goal: helping build a more resilient oyster industry for PEI and Atlantic Canada. We’re proud to work alongside Atlantic Aqua Farms and the Center for Aquaculture Technologies, with support from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, to develop solutions that can ultimately benefit growers and coastal communities across the region.” – Dr. Jordan Poley, Director of LabTech Services, Onda