Aquaculture Opportunities for Youth
Young Islanders See Future in Aquaculture
For years, Karla Handrahan, a Grade 9 teacher at Hernewood Intermediate School in western PEI, had been hearing the same mantra from her students. Many felt that if they were not going to pursue post-secondary education, their only real option for employment was to move “out West” or somewhere other than Prince Edward Island.
“They felt there wasn’t a lot of opportunity locally,” Handrahan said.
Recently, that’s started to change, and Handrahan said growth in the aquaculture industry, such as within the oyster sector, is one of the main drivers behind the shift.
“The last five to seven years I’m not hearing that (mantra) as much,” she said. “I’ve been hearing ‘I want to stay on PEI; I can work on the oyster farm.’”
As a teacher for the past 17 years and the wife of Jason Handrahan, Co-Owner or North Shore Oyster Co., Handrahan said she’s happy to hear her students looking on the Island for opportunities. She’s had a number of students follow that exact path after graduating.
“It’s so nice to hear how they (students) want to access these local opportunities,” she said. “I feel like there’s a renewed interest in staying local. There’s a renewed sense of pride and I think it’s great.”
Young blood
Nineteen-year-old Connor Horne is one such example. Horne started working in the aquaculture industry when he was 14, and after spending a few of the intervening years as a Holland College student and then a welder, he eventually made his way back to aquaculture, working in oysters with his family. “I realized we were pretty lucky here on PEI,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity, especially in the oyster industry. It’s grown a lot over the years.”
“I liked welding but you’re working inside,” Horne said. “(With oysters) you’re outside, you’re out on the water. It’s nice to be outdoors. It’s nice working with my family too. It’s nice seeing them every day.”
Horne currently works harvesting and selling oysters to his uncle Martin O’Brien, an exporter who owns and operates Cascumpec Bay Oyster Company. He said while the days can be long and the work physically demanding, he couldn’t see himself doing anything else. “I realized we were pretty lucky here on PEI,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity, especially in the oyster industry. It’s grown a lot over the years.”
Young blood
Nineteen-year-old Connor Horne is one such example. Horne started working in the aquaculture industry when he was 14, and after spending a few of the intervening years as a Holland College student and then a welder, he eventually made his way back to aquaculture, working in oysters with his family. “I realized we were pretty lucky here on PEI,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity, especially in the oyster industry. It’s grown a lot over the years.”
“I liked welding but you’re working inside,” Horne said. “(With oysters) you’re outside, you’re out on the water. It’s nice to be outdoors. It’s nice working with my family too. It’s nice seeing them every day.”
Horne currently works harvesting and selling oysters to his uncle Martin O’Brien, an exporter who owns and operates Cascumpec Bay Oyster Company. He said while the days can be long and the work physically demanding, he couldn’t see himself doing anything else. “I realized we were pretty lucky here on PEI,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity, especially in the oyster industry. It’s grown a lot over the years.”
More jobs than workers
In fact, the aquaculture industry as a whole creates 2,500 direct and indirect jobs annually across the Island. Drawing attention to those opportunities has become a top priority for Peter Warris, Director of Projects and Industry Liaison with the PEI Aquaculture Alliance.
“Retention is an important thing,” said Warris. “Making people aware they can stay on and work (in the industry) is important. People want to know there’s a chance to progress in their work.”
Warris said the number of jobs created outpacing applicants to fill those jobs is the biggest shift in the industry over previous years.
“The opportunities do exist,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity in the industry.”
More jobs than workers
In fact, the aquaculture industry as a whole creates 2,500 direct and indirect jobs annually across the Island. Drawing attention to those opportunities has become a top priority for Peter Warris, Director of Projects and Industry Liaison with the PEI Aquaculture Alliance.
“Retention is an important thing,” said Warris. “Making people aware they can stay on and work (in the industry) is important. People want to know there’s a chance to progress in their work.”
Warris said the number of jobs created outpacing applicants to fill those jobs is the biggest shift in the industry over previous years.
“The opportunities do exist,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity in the industry.”
Local Focus, Global Impact
In addition to feeding Islanders via the province’s bustling restaurant industry, PEI’s food-scene draws tourists from around the world, which in turn, has helped promote aquaculture products off-Island.
For operations like MR Seafoods, a fresh and frozen seafood wholesaler in Charlottetown, that means big business.
“Tourism is a major factor for us,” said Reggie Jameson, general manager of MR Seafoods.
Jameson said of the $450,000 in fresh oysters purchased annually, 25 percent is sold to off-Island buyers. Likewise, for Morell-based distributor Atlantic Shellfish. Owner Jacob Dockendorff said promoting products to tourists has helped drive the export side of his business.