05/01/2026
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
Tyne Valley calls for urgent government action on oyster industry crisis
May 1, 2026, Tyne Valley, Prince Edward Island
The Rural Municipality of Tyne Valley, located in the heart of Prince Edward Island’s oyster industry and home of the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival, is calling for immediate leadership to respond to the growing crisis in the oyster sector.
The oyster industry, and the people and businesses who depend on it, are in serious distress. The impacts are causing deep personal and financial hardship for harvesters, growers, processors, workers, and local businesses, with consequences spreading across
the entire local economy.
While there appears to be debate between orders of government about who holds primary responsibility to act, Tyne Valley’s clear message is that what is needed now is leadership and a concrete plan.
The Rural Municipality of Tyne Valley is calling on governments to act without delay to:
• Establish immediate, short-term income supports for participants across the oyster sector.
• Implement measures to manage industry debt, including options such as interest relief, payment deferrals, and targeted investments that support innovation and productivity.
• Act immediately to import oyster seed and ensure it is distributed equitably within the aquaculture sector.
• Launch and support a coordinated effort to rebuild and seed oyster beds across Prince Edward Island, supporting employment now and securing a stronger footing for the future.
• Establish a program to support license buy-outs or rationalization of the wild fishery, to help stabilize the sector and support a sustainable path forward.
Our community lives the oyster industry every day. This is not an abstract policy problem for us, it is people’s livelihoods, family businesses, and a way of life at risk. We respect all orders of government, but we need clear leadership and a coordinated plan.
The time to act is now.
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Media Contact:
Penny Ellis, Chief Administrative Officer, Rural Municipality of Tyne Valley
[email protected]
