The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia have announced a funding support of over $2 million to the Verschuren Centre through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund to develop a land-based oyster hatchery. The hatchery will address the concerns of oyster growers regarding the spread of MSX and a lack of oyster seed, and will establish a lab-based process to reduce parasite prevalence in MSX infected oysters. This will allow the oyster industry in Bras d’Or Lake, which has been devastated by the MSX parasite, to rebuild and bring economic stability to the local community. The funding comes from the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fund, which will continue to invest in projects over the seven-year life of the programme.