Canada's fisheries fast facts 2025
On this page
- National overview
- Regional overview
- Species highlights
- International trade statistics
- Marine economy
National overview
Principal statistics, 2024
| Details | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross value of outputs (CAD, in thousands of dollars) | |
| Commercial sea and freshwater fisheries landings | 4,096,733 |
| Aquaculture production 1 | 1,364,858 |
| Seafood product preparation & packaging revenues 2 | 7,789,366 |
| Employment (number of persons) | |
| Commercial fish harvesters and crew 3 | 9,403 |
| Aquaculture | 2,807 |
| Seafood product preparation & packaging | 19,732 |
| Commercial seafisheries | |
| Total weight of landings (metric tonnes) | 626,225 |
| Total value of landings (CAD, in thousands of dollars) | 4,009,150 |
| Commercial freshwater fisheries | |
| Total weight of landings (metric tonnes) | 24,888 |
| Total value of landings (CAD, in thousands of dollars) | 87,583 |
| International trade statistics (CAD, in thousands of dollars) 4 | |
| Total value of fish and seafood exports | 8,469,225 |
| Total value of fish and seafood imports | 5,262,780 |
| Trade balance | 3,206,445 |
- Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0107-01 Aquaculture, production and value.
- Statistics Canada. Table 16-10-0117-01 Principal statistics for manufacturing industries, by North American Industry Classification System NAICS (x 1,000).
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada calculations, based on Statistic Canada’s input-output model and custom data tabulations.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Canadian Trade. Last updated February 23, 2026. Adapted from Statistics Canada, International Trade Data.
Regional overview
Landings and production statistics, 2024
| Commercial sea and freshwater fisheries1 | Pacific | Inland | Atlantic | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of registered fishing vessels 2 | 1,932 | 150 | 13,991 | 16,073 |
| Total weight of landings (metric tonnes) | 81,854 | 23,160 | 546,098 | 627,952 |
| Total value of landings (in thousands of dollars) | 385,230 | 84,005 | 3,627,498 | 4,012,728 |
| Aquaculture 3 | ||||
| Number of aquaculture establishments 4 | 170 | 154 | 291 | 615 |
| Total weight of production (metric tonnes) | 64,154 | 9,734 | 86,430 | 160,318 |
| Total value of production (in thousands of dollars) | 562,814 | 60,918 | 741,126 | 1,364,858 |
| Totals may not add up due to rounding | ||||
- Atlantic: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec; Inland: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut; Pacific: British Columbia and Yukon.
- Inland vessel count is for Ontario Great Lakes only.
- Inland Aquaculture totals include Ontario, Quebec, Territories, and suppressed values for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta.
- Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Canadian Industry Statistics (Aquaculture).
Species highlights
Commercial seafisheries landings by species groups and region, 2024 - Weight (metric tonnes)
| Details | Atlantic | Pacific | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 13,003 | 0 | 13,003 |
| Groundfish | 72,436 | 51,568 | 124,004 |
| Pelagics | 82,111 | 18,609 | 100,721 |
| Shellfish | 376,821 | 11,676 | 388,497 |
| Total weight of landings (metric tonnes) | 544,371 | 81,854 | 626,225 |
| Totals may not add up due to rounding | |||
Commercial seafisheries landings by species groups and region, 2024 - Value (in thousands of dollars)
| Details | Atlantic | Pacific | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 1,519 | 0 | 1,519 |
| Groundfish | 251,796 | 100,605 | 352,401 |
| Pelagics | 87,912 | 56,735 | 144,647 |
| Shellfish | 3,282,693 | 227,889 | 3,510,582 |
| Total value of landings (in thousands of dollars) | 3,623,920 | 385,230 | 4,009,150 |
| Totals may not add up due to rounding | |||
Source: Department of Fisheries and Oceans (2025). Zonal Interchange File [database]. Ottawa
Commercial freshwater landings, 2024
| Details | Weight (metric tonnes) | Value (in thousands of dollars) | Main producing province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow pickerel | 11,736 | 54,423 | Ontario |
| Perch | 2,327 | 13,229 | Ontario |
| Whitefish | 2,542 | 8,351 | Manitoba |
| Other | 8,283 | 11,580 | N/A |
| Total landings | 24,888 | 87,583 | - |
| Totals may not add up due to rounding | |||
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2025), Reported Freshwater Landings by Provinces/Territories.
Aquaculture production, 2024
| Details | Weight (metric tonnes) | Value (in thousands of dollars) | Main Producing Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon | 88,068 | 888,310 | British Columbia |
| Mussels | 20,398 | 41,351 | Prince Edward Island |
| Oysters | 15,497 | 75,686 | British Columbia |
| Other | 36,355 | 359,511 | Ontario |
| Total aquaculture | 160,318 | 1,364,858 | - |
| Totals may not add up due to rounding | |||
Source: Aquaculture, production and value, Statistics Canada, CANSIM 32-10-0107-01.
International trade statisticsFootnote 1
International trade in fish and seafood products, 2024 and 2025 (exports)
| Details | Weight (metric tonnes) | Value (in thousands of dollars) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top product exports, by species | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Lobster | 80,798 | 79,380 | 2,971,133 | 3,013,171 |
| Snow/Queen crab | 59,345 | 59,490 | 1,248,521 | 1,703,937 |
| Atlantic salmon | 74,269 | 65,632 | 940,061 | 813,835 |
| Shrimp | 45,024 | 47,523 | 349,964 | 361,483 |
| Crab, other | 17,353 | 12,259 | 385,467 | 289,186 |
| Total exports | 518,106 | 512,618 | 8,148,950 | 8,469,225 |
International trade in fish and seafood products, 2024 and 2025 (imports)
| Details | Weight (metric tonnes) | Value (in thousands of dollars) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top product imports, by species | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Salmon, all species | 67,073 | 67,356 | 954,725 | 1,026,132 |
| Shrimp | 69,287 | 71,964 | 778,832 | 905,604 |
| Lobster | 15,668 | 15,371 | 355,527 | 343,171 |
| Skipjack/Bonito Tuna | 38,908 | 41,522 | 291,976 | 321,546 |
| Crab, all species | 10,704 | 8,540 | 176,973 | 162,138 |
| Total imports | 519,065 | 543,161 | 4,940,585 | 5,262,780 |
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Canadian Trade. Last updated February 23, 2026. Adapted from Statistics Canada, International Trade Data.
Marine economy
Canada’s marine economy spans a number of industries and sectors, including, but not limited to, commercial fishing, manufacturing, construction, and tourism. In 2024, the marine economy accounted for approximately 2% of Canada’s total GDP.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada calculations, based on Statistic Canada’s input-output model and custom data tabulations
Long description
- Marine GDP by province, 2024 ($billion)
- BC: 18.931
- NL: 12.003
- NS: 10.980
- QC: 5.519
- NB: 2.598
- PEI: 1.162
- Territories: 0.665
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada calculations, based on Statistic Canada’s input-output model and custom data tabulations
Long description
- Marine GDP by industry and effect type, 2024 ($billion)
- Oil and gas:
- direct: 7.085
- indirect: 0.812
- induced: 0.371
- Marine tourism:
- direct: 5.370
- indirect: 3.851
- induced: 3.032
- Public sector:
- direct: 4.849
- indirect: 1.452
- induced: 2.571
- Commercial fishing:
- direct: 2.409
- indirect: 0.653
- induced: 0.423
- Support activities:
- direct: 2.600
- indirect: 2.109
- induced: 1.457
- Water transportation:
- direct: 1.761
- indirect: 0.696
- induced: 0.886
- Fish processing:
- direct: 1.739
- indirect: 1.198
- induced: 0.814
- Ship and boat building:
- direct: 1.218
- indirect: 0.898
- induced: 0.588
- Port and harbour construction:
- direct: 0.885
- indirect: 0.501
- induced: 0.426
- Aquaculture:
- direct: 0.445
- indirect: 0.548
- induced: 0.211
- Oil and gas:
Prepared by Statistical Services, Economic Analysis and Statistics, February, 2026
Data revisions and/or updates are available on Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Statistical Services.
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