The seafood caught and produced in Atlantic Canada is worth in excess of $2.2 billion annually and continue to grow.
According to the most recent statistics (2013) from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the landed value of all seafood produced in the four Atlantic Provinces totals an impressive $2,258,151,000. This number is quite staggering when you think about at. Few industries in this region produce products that contribute this much to the economy and gross domestic product (GDP) in one year.
This total is combination of the traditional capture fishery — worth $1,826,668,000 — and the aquaculture industry, with a value of $431,483,000.
As one would expect, a wide variety of species contribute to the multi-billion dollar total.
Surprisingly to some, the groundfish fishery continues to produce decent numbers, accounting for $155 million in product. Turbot leads the way here, contributing $50 million, followed by halibut at $35 million and cod adding $11 million.
Pelagics and other finfish account for about $106 million annually. Herring is the main catalyst in this group, kicking in more than $45 million. Swordfish and tuna are a distant second and third with $12 million and $10 million respectfully.
It will come as no surprise to anyone associated with the fishery or seafood industry in Atlantic Canada what group or species really drives the industry here — shellfish. This group of crustaceans accounts for an impressive $1,549,842,000 — just shy of $1.6 billion annually.
Lobster is king in Atlantic Canada, with a value in excess of $640 million. Crab is next contributing $360 million, followed closely by shrimp at $310 million. Scallops round out the top four shellfish species at $170 million.
While not at the same level as the traditional capture fishery, aquaculture continues to grow and contribute more and more to the economy each year. In 2013, more than $400 million in product was produced by the aquaculture industry in the four Atlantic Provinces — primarily through the key species of salmon, trout and mussels.
This seafood industry continues to be a strong employment driver in the region, responsible for more than 50,000 direct jobs — both seasonal and permanent — in the harvesting, processing and aquaculture sectors. This, of course, does not include the thousands of spin-off jobs associated with the fishery and millions of additional dollars pumped back into Atlantic Canada’s economy.
While the capture fishery and aquacultures are producing literally billions of dollars in product each year, it is not without its challenges. In fact, few industries in Atlantic Canada, if any, have faced the adversity the fishery has over the decades — including dwindling stocks, quota cuts, labour shortages, constant conflicts with the federal government and building competition from outside Canada. Those catching and producing seafood in this region have seen and experienced it all.
But despite the perception of always having the cards stacked against them, Atlantic Canadians are a resilient bunch. No matter how many times seafood harvesters and processors get knocked down, in many cases by forces beyond their control, they always managed to pick up the pieces and move on to face the next challenge.
If an individual was parachuted into the middle of the Atlantic Canadian fishery — totally ignorant of the goings on here — they might get the impression, due to the constant array of challenges, this industry was going the way of the Great Auk. But nothing could be further from the truth. Despite the insurmountable challenges each year, the value of the seafood produced here is increasing year over year.
After years of growing pains, the aquaculture industry is starting to get its second wind and producing a world-class product — increasing production year over year.In the capture fishery, harvesters are getting more serious about diversification. Many realize now that quotas for many cash species, such as crab and shrimp, are in decline and are looking for other opportunities — mainly associated with the once unheard of concept of a new, viable, sustainable groundfish fishery.
But this is not going to happen overnight. Industry stakeholders need to face the realization that further evolution is needed before a worthwhile cod fishery becomes a reality. Issues such as markets, price, quality, processing capacity and productivity stand between the current situation and what might possibly be.
After years of uncertainty, combined with the constant nattering of the naysayers mumbling about how the fishery will soon be no more, there are suddenly glimmers of hope surfacing — other than the increasing presence of cod off our shores — that could help this still valuable business turn the corner and further increase in value.
The Maritime Provinces are finally making progress in establishing formalized marketing campaigns for the all-important lobster, while harvesters, for the most part, are getting good prices for their catches.
The 2014 signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union also holds great promise — opening up the vast European markets to Atlantic Canadian seafood like never before. Hopefully the current CETA-related fisheries fund dispute between the federal government in Ottawa and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador can be resolved at some point in the near future. This is creating a real impediment to work that needs to be done on essential planning for a return to groundfish.
But just as sure as the strong Northeast winds will continue to buffet our shores each year, those prosecuting the seafood industry in Atlantic Canada will stand by their resolve and continue to produce the products that continue to drive the growth and evolution of this critically important, multi-billion dollar machine we call the fishery.
