Canada's Wild Fisheries: Facts and Figures

This document is also available for downloading or viewing here: Part 1 (PDF version, 4.4MB) Part 2 (PDF version, 2.3MB)

• Canada's Wild Fisheries
• 1. Wild Capture fisheries in Canada
  • 1.1 Wild Capture Fisheries in Canada – Landed Volume and Value and Export Value
  • 1.2 Landings of Shellfish, Groundfish, Pelagic Fish, Freshwater Fish and Anadromous Fish
  • 1.3 Wild Capture – 2011 fish and Seafood Export Walue per Province and Territory
• 2. Top species harvested per province and territory based on landed value
  • 2.1 Percentage of 2010 Landed Volume per Province and Territory
  • 2.2 Percentage of 2010 Landed Value per Province and Territory
    
• 3. Canada's Wild Fisheries
  • 3.1 Shellfish
  • 3.2 Groundfish
  • 3.3 Pelagic Fish
  • 3.4 Anadromous Fish
  • 3.5 Freshwater Fish
  • 3.6 Recreational Fishing

Canada's Wild Fisheries

Fish and seafood is one of the largest single food commodities exported by Canada and we are committed to the sustainability of this valuable natural resource. Approximately 85 percent of our wild capture fish and seafood products are exported around the world and are a significant driver of our nation’s economy, generating nearly $3.6 billion in export revenues in 2011.

In order to remain a world leader in the production of high-quality, safe, nutritious and sustainable fish, seafood and marine products, Canada strongly supports governments, the industry, Aboriginal peoples and science working together.

Move mouse over map to see data for each province and territory.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canada Revenue Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Economic Analysis and Statistics.

Values provided in the map are landed values.
Landings refer to landed volume. Employment data for 2009.

Alternative text detailing the landed volume, landed value and employment for Canada’s wild fisheries per province, territory and Canada as a whole.

Top of page

1. Wild capture fisheries in Canada

1.1 Wild capture fisheries in Canada – Landed Volume and Value and Export Value

Canada’s exports of fish and seafood products have increased from $3.3 billion in 2010 to $3.6 billion in 2011. The value of our exports demonstrates Canada’s position as a world leader in the export of fish and seafood products.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

1.2 Landings of Shellfish, Groundfish, Pelagic Fish, Freshwater Fish and Anadromous Fish

Over a span of 10 years, between 2001 and 2010, shellfish has been the most harvested category of wild fish, accounting for over 43% of the total amount of fish harvested among the five categories listed. It is followed by pelagic and groundfish, which together account for more than 50% of the harvest among the same five categories.

Sources: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Top of page

1.3 Wild Capture – 2011 fish and Seafood Export Value per Province and Territory

Canada exports approximately 85% of all fish and seafood landed by Canadian fish harvesters. Canada’s five most valuable wild fishery exports by species in 2011 were lobster, snow crab, shrimp, herring and scallops.

Note: The percentage values for Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon have been amalgamated for the purpose of this graph.

*The percentage values for Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon have been amalgamated for the purpose of this table.

Sources: Statistics Canada

Top of page

2. Top species harvested per province and territory based on landed value

Top of page

2.1 Percentage of 2010 Landed Volume per Province and Territory

Note: The percentage values for Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Prairies have been amalgamated for the purpose of this graph.

Note: The percentage values for Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Prairies have been amalgamated for the purpose of this graph.

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Top of page

2.2 Percentage of 2010 Landed Value per Province and Territory

Note: The percentage values for Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Prairies have been amalgamated for the purpose of this graph.

Note: The percentage values for Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Prairies have been amalgamated for the purpose of this graph.

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Top of page

3. Canada's Wild Fisheries

3.1 Shellfish

Shellfish are Canada’s most valuable seafood group, comprising over 69% of the total export value of the wild capture fishery. Canada’s top fisheries for shellfish include lobster, crab, shrimp, scallop, clam, and whelks. The landed value for shellfish in 2010 was $1.17 billion; the export value was $2.17 billion in 2010 and $2.46 billion in 2011^*.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Top of page

3.2 Groundfish

Groundfish, or bottom fish, live and feed near the bottom of the sea. Canada’s top fisheries for groundfish include cod, haddock, halibut, Greenland turbot, flatfish, hake, and others. The landed value for groundfish in 2010 was $268 million; the export was $335 million in 2010 and $334 million in 2011*.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Top of page

3.3 Pelagic Fish

Pelagic fish live and feed primarily in the surface layers or a short distance below the surface. Canada’s top fisheries for pelagic fish include tuna, herring and mackerel. The landed value for pelagic fish in 2010 was $108 million; the export value was over $291 million in 2010 and $272 million in 2011*.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Top of page

3.4 Anadromous Fish

Anadromous fish spawn in fresh water but spend most of their life at sea. Canada’s wild capture of salmon, the most valuable anadromous fish export, takes place in the Pacific Ocean, while alewife can be found in almost every Maritime stream and river. The landed value for wild-caught salmon and alewife in 2010 was over $71 million; the export value was $165 million in 2010 and $119 million in 2011*.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Top of page

3.5 Freshwater Fish

Canada’s top fisheries for freshwater fish include pickerel, perch, whitefish, trout, and pike. The landed value for freshwater fish in 2010 was $60 million; the export value was $143 million in 2010 and $143 million in 2011*.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Top of page

3.6 Recreational Fishing

In 2005, over 3.2 million adult anglers participated in a variety of recreational fishing activities in Canada. Historical data show that the number of active adult anglers has decreased at an average annual rate of 2% from 1995 to 2005. The Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada is conducted every five years.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

* Landed value means the market value of fish and seafood on the day they are offloaded from a vessel. Export value is the total cost of the fish and seafood after it is processed and sold internationally. The 2011 landed volumes and values were not available at the time of printing.

Visit Our Website for More Information
More detailed information about Canada's harvest can be found at Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Statistical Services.

For information about Canada's wild fishing and aquaculture practices
and management regulations, visit the Sustainable Fish and Seafood site.

Published by:
Communications Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6
DFO/2012-1815
Cat. Fs1-76/2012
ISBN: 978-1-100-53096-3
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada 2012