User: L’Étang Ruisseau Bar Ltée
Contest: Canadian Biotechnology Innovation and Commercialization (CBIC) Initiative
A dangerous parasite is threatening Atlantic Canada’s oyster industry, putting thousands of jobs, food security, and a multimillion-dollar sector at risk. The disease, known as MSX, has no cure and is expected to cause up to 95% oyster mortality within the next few years.
MSX, caused by the parasite Haplosporidium nelsoni, was first detected in Cape Breton in 2002 and has now spread across Prince Edward Island. With the entire province declared infected, experts warn that without immediate action, the oyster industry in Eastern Canada could collapse.
To tackle the growing threat of MSX, researchers at Université Laval are partnering with L’Étang Ruisseau Bar Ltée (ERB), the largest oyster hatchery in NB, on a genomics-driven breeding program. Their goal is to identify genes in oysters that are linked to natural resistance, allowing for the development of disease-resistant oyster strains.
Using a method called genome-wide association, researchers will study the DNA of oysters to find genetic markers tied to MSX resistance. These findings will lead to the creation of a new tool that allows hatcheries to breed oysters that are both productive and disease-resistant.
This work is critical for keeping oyster production alive in Eastern Canada. ERB’s location in northern New Brunswick—likely one of the last areas affected by MSX—makes it ideally placed to supply resistant oyster seed to the region.
By fast-tracking resistant oysters, this project will help save an industry while showcasing Canadian innovation in sustainable aquaculture.