Keeping the public trust

Outbreak of norovirus in West Coast oysters having an impact on P.E.I. oyster growers

The manager of Raspberry Point Oysters says the recent outbreak of norovirus in B.C. oysters is having an impact on their business as of late.

James Power said in the short term there has been an increase in their sales to western clients as well as an increase in business with their other clients who normally purchase West Coast oysters and are not able to get them now.

“These increases in the short term are small compared to the possible long-term damage that could happen if the public loses trust in oysters.”

They want to make sure their competitors all across the country are not hurt by this businesswise or see people getting sick, Power said.

“Not everyone who hears there are sicknesses related to West Coast oysters would distinguish those oysters from their oysters which have not been infected by the virus.

“Hopefully there is a resolution or isolation to that problem shortly before public trust is broken.”

Meanwhile, over at MR Seafoods, manager Reggie Jameson said because of the outbreak of the virus in B.C. they’re selling a lot more oysters than they used to outside of P.E.I.

“I’ve got some going to Vancouver today.”

There is a large demand for Atlantic oysters right now. MR Seafoods is not a huge seller of oysters outside of the Island, but it does have clients in Montreal and Calgary, he said.

“They’re starting to call me because they can’t get them from B.C.”

MR Seafoods usually does a lot of business selling oysters in P.E.I. in the summer, but now there is a lot more business off-Island, Jameson said.

“We’re not moving pallets of oysters, but we’re moving half pallets all the time.”

According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, British Columbia is the leading oysterproducing province in Canada.

From 2011-2015, there was an annual average of 25,800 tonnes of oysters produced in the country. B.C. produced 60 per cent of that quantity.

Oysters are the second-most valuable shellfish aquaculture species behind mussels.

BRADLEY COLLINS/THE GUARDIAN Brennan Roy, cook at the Pilot House Restaurant, shucks a fresh oyster from Prince Edward Aqua Farms. Atlantic oyster sales have seen a dramatic increase with the outbreak of norovirus in West Coast oysters