Tunicates, an invasive species cutting into the profits of mussel farmers on P.E.I., are also increasing risks for the people harvesting them, say workers in the industry.

The jelly-like tunicate cling to mussel lines, competing for food, slowing the growth of the shellfish, and making them more difficult to harvest.

Tunicate massing on mussel lines make them slippery and difficult to deal with.
(CBC)

For the owners of mussel leases, harvesting difficulties are primarily in the cost of cleaning the tunicates off the mussels.

For workers, those difficulties are compounded by the sheer weight of tunicate, which can turn what would be a 20 kg mussel sock into one weighing 100 kg, which increases the strain on people and equipment hauling it out of the water. The tunicate cling to the line as well as the sock, making it slippery as it is hauled through the winch.

That was a problem for Kevin Lahey, who was working on a mussel boat a few weeks ago when the line slipped off the winch and struck him.

"The line hit me and drove me right in the water," said Lahey.

"I can't remember, it happened so fast. I found out I was down under the water."

Lahey's co-workers hauled him back aboard, but getting soaked in cold P.E.I. waters was not the end of Lahey's troubles. He had been spraying lime on the mussel lines to kill the tunicate, and the water he fell into was white with it. He has since complained of burning in his eyes and throat. The Workers Compensation Board is investigating.

Lahey isn't the first worker to fall off a mussel boat, but workers in the industry say these incidents have become much more common. There are no statistics, however, because cases that simply involve a dunking, with no injuries, do not need to be reported.

The use of lime is also leading to complaints from workers. Lime is a highly irritating substance, which can cause blindness in extreme cases. There are no known chronic effects from long-term exposure, but some workers are complaining about cuts that won't heal.

Staff turnover in the industry is increasing and Lahey says he hasn't decided yet whether he will go back to work on the mussel boats.