234 THEISLAND ACADIANS 
     
    
   
   
    
     Since the 1940s, the Island fishing industry has become much 
     
     more diversified. Lobster is still the main product but tuna, redfish, 
     
     scallop and plaice have also become very profitable. In 1979 the 
     
     commercial value of the principal species was as follows’®: 
     
    
   
   
    
     lobster $18,073,895 
     
     cod 2,002,742 
     
     scallops 817,082 
     
     redfish 787,835 
     
     oysters 762,517 
     
     hake 704,527 
     
     tuna 566,830 
     
     mackerel 544,985 
     
     plaice 425,307 
     
     winter flounder 256,613 
     
     herring 246,285 
     
    
   
   
    
     Many fishermen also gather Irish moss. This industry began on 
     
     the Island around 1940" and has become relatively important today. 
     
     The Irish moss harvest was valued at $2,688,903 in 19808. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A MORE DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY 
     
    
   
   
    
     The economy in Acadian communities started becoming diver- 
     
     sified primarily in the 1960s. Nowadays Acadians earn their living 
     
     from various activities and no.longer just from farming and fishing. 
     
     A large number are employed by small businesses such as construction, 
     
     transportation, auto repair and maintenance, restaurants, the retail 
     
     trade and others. Tourism has also developed in several areas, but 
     
     particularly in North Rustico (located on the edge of the National 
     
     Park) and Mont Carmel where the Acadian Pioneer Village (built in 
     
     1967) is situated. 
     
    

    
     The co-operative movement begun in the 1930s is still very much 
     
     alive amongst the Island Acadians. Nearly every Acadian community 
     
     has a credit union and a Co-op store. In the Tignish area and in the 
     
     Evangeline region (i.e. Egmont Bay, Mont Carmel and Wellington) 
     
     there are also co-operatives for the fisheries, forestry, tourism and