The exception in this gloomy picture is the lobster fishery. Catches are pretty good and prices have remained relatively steady. Aquaculture is contemplated as an alternative to conventional fishing. The rather large lagoons of the archipelago are potential sites where some species could be raised. Small mussel farms have been established over the past few years.
Tourism is a growing industry.
In the seventies some 20,000 tourists visited the Magdalens every year. The flow of visitors brings a certain amount of stress to the environment of the islands. Limited fresh water supplies are heavily tapped when so many visitors are present in the archipelago. All-terrain recreational vehicles damage dunes, disturb the habitat of birds and even cause harm to endangered species. The islanders form a compact community.