Sustainability in PEI Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries

The Department of Agriculture and Land and the Department of Fisheries and Communities maintain policies and programs to ensure the actions of the present day do not diminish the ability of future generations to provide for their needs, maintain their health, and enjoy their lives. The following information describes how PEI agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries policies and programs support four areas of sustainability including:

• Economic Sustainability
• Organizational Sustainability
• Social Sustainability and
• Environmental Sustainability

Economic Sustainability

For an economy to support a defined level of economic production indefinitely, strategies and activities must employ resources optimally while ensuring a balance between the growth of our economy and the protection of our resources. Policies and programs which aim to support economic sustainability in PEI include...

Mussel Monitoring Program: provision of technical expertise in development of the mussel industry

Oyster Monitoring Program: provision of technical expertise in development of the oyster industry

Aquaculture Technology Program:  supports anticipation of future risk, which supports long-term sustainability

Quality Oyster Aquaculture Program: uses evidence-based decision making to manage and sustain the oyster industry

Lobster Resource Monitoring Program: uses evidence-based decision making to manage and sustain the lobster industry

Genome Canada Research Funding for Mussels:  improves the quality of mussel aquaculture products

Agri-Food Market Development Program: assist agricultural producers and processers with expanding their markets and strengthening their businesses

Gender Diversity and Inclusion Plan: supports recruitment of under-represented groups to participate in industry development

Future Fishers Program: supports new fishers to enter and remain in the industry

Aquaculture Futures Program: uses evidence-based decision making to manage and sustain the aquaculture industry

Atlantic Fisheries Fund: supporting PEI fish and seafood sector in responding to global market demands

Shellfish Enhancement Program: assist shellfish industry in product quality improvement

Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP) Programs: Nine programs support economic sustainability of agriculture in PEI. 

Organizational Sustainability

To ensure organizations maintain themselves through time, activities and processes exist to identify risks and opportunities in a timely manner, make production or service delivery more efficient and effective, or improve human resources practices. Policies which aim to support organizational sustainability in PEI include...

Mussel Monitoring Program: assists mussel growers with operations management

Oyster Monitoring Program: assists oyster growers with operations management

Atlantic Fisheries Fund: supports fisheries and aquaculture businesses with operational efficiency and effectiveness

Funding for the PEI Aquaculture Alliance: funding to support core operations

Funding for the PEI Shellfish Association: funding to support core operations

Future Fishers Program: assists new entrants of the lobster industry with operations management

Agristability, Agri-Insurance, Agri-Invest: supports agri-producers in managing operation risks

Agriculture Research and Innovation Program: assists commodity organizations in maintaining knowledge transfer services

Funding for Women’s Institute: funding to support core operations

Funding for Food Island Partnership: funding to support core operations

Future Farmer Program: assists new entrants in agriculture with operations management

Policy Capacity Development & Mentorship Program: supports developing a future generation of policy leaders in the public service

Funding for 4-H: funding to support core operations

Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Plan: encourages inclusive departmental practices to support organizational innovation

Social Sustainability

Social sustainability, while considering the impact today’s decisions may have on the lives of future generations,  involves the provision of equitable access to public goods and services to all persons, regardless of gender, race, ability, age, etc. and aims to improve quality of life, especially for disadvantaged groups. Policies which aim to support social sustainability in PEI include…

Funding for 4-H: supports and encourages youth participation in agriculture

Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Plan: encourages under-represented groups to participate in agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, in part by identifying root causes of marginalization

Funding for Women’s Institute: supports social connections among women in agriculture

Farmer Assistance Program: provides confidential, professional counselling services to farmers, farm employees and their families

Community Food Security & Agriculture Awareness Program: encourages access to the local food system for under-represented groups 

Public Trust Program: encourages cross-sectoral and community connections to facilitate agriculture information sharing

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability involves processes of the natural world, the way humans relate to the natural world and the impact of human activity on renewable and non-renewable resources. With consideration for environmental ethics and the proper management of healthy ecosystems, activities to support environmental sustainability in PEI include… 

Mussel Monitoring Program: collects environmental and biological data to be used in best-management practices and ecosystem monitoring

Oyster Monitoring Program: collects environmental data to be used in best-management practices and ecosystem monitoring

Lobster Resource Monitoring Program: collects biological data which is used to manage and sustain the lobster industry

Aquaculture Technology Program: funds projects which support the long-term sustainability of the aquaculture ecosystem

Agriculture Stewardship Program: supports producers to implement environmental management practices that result in resource conservation and healthy island ecosystems

Support for Environmental Farm Plans: encourages producers to create implementation plans for improved production practices that support resource conservation and healthy island ecosystems

Alternative Land Use Services Program: encourages producers to implement beneficial management practices or remove sensitive land from agricultural production in order to improve use of resources and ecosystem health 

Perennial Crop Development Program: encourages establishment of perennial crops to improve use of resources, e.g.. through soil conservation and more efficient use of water and nutrients 

Quality Oyster Aquaculture Program: aims to maintain the long-term sustainability of the environment in which growers operate at minimal environmental costs

Sustainability in agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries Info-graphic