Book 1, Tab A1 - Key Facts and Figures

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• Fast facts: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Fast facts: Canadian marine sector
• Fast facts: National fisheries

Fast facts: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is the lead federal department on a wide range of activities that ensure the conservation, protection, and regeneration of Canada's fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.
• DFO works with fish harvesters, coastal and Indigenous communities, and provincial and territorial partners to enable participation in the fisheries and continued prosperity from fish and seafood.
• DFO's programs and services support four overarching priority areas: fisheries, aquatic ecosystems, marine navigation, and marine operations and response.
• DFO and its special operating agency, the Canadian Coast Guard, also play key roles in keeping Canadian waters safe and secure by responding to maritime incidents such as search-and-rescue and environmental emergencies, and by maintaining waterways year-round so they are safely navigable by mariners and all Canadians.
• The Department has approximately 15,000 employees.
• In addition to the National Capital Region, DFO comprises seven regions (Arctic, Gulf, Maritimes, Newfoundland & Labrador, Quebec, Pacific, and Ontario and Prairies), with an additional four Coast Guard regions (Central, Western, Atlantic, and Arctic).
• Over 83 per cent of DFO employees work outside the National Capital Region to deliver direct services to Canadians.

Fast facts: Canadian marine sector

• Marine sectors contributed $50.8 billion or 1.8 per cent to Canada's GDP in 2023.
• Marine tourism and recreation was the largest contributor to GDP in 2023 at $11.9 billion. Offshore oil production contributed $8.6 billion, commercial fish and seafood industries (harvest, processing and aquaculture) contributed $8.0 billion, and marine transportation contributed $9.3 billion.
• In 2023, marine industries supported 445,753 jobs (2.2 per cent of employment) throughout Canada’s economy, which is 23 per cent higher than in 2019 and 6 per cent higher than in 2022.
• After a particularly strong year in 2021, supported by heightened post-pandemic spending, fish and seafood exports declined two years in a row as governments and central banks enacted policies to curb inflation. As inflation returned to target levels, exports grew once again. At $8.1 billion in 2024, fish and seafood continue to be among the largest single food commodities exported by Canada.
• The U.S. remains Canada's largest export market, valued at $5.5 billion in 2024 (68 per cent).
• In 2024, lobster ($2.9 billion), crab ($1.6 billion, mainly snow/queen), salmon ($1.2 billion, 79 per cent farmed Atlantic salmon), and shrimp ($347 million) were Canada’s largest seafood exports. These four species accounted for 76 per cent of total seafood exports by value and 57 per cent by volume.
• Nationally, ocean-based recreational fisheries are much smaller and contribute 2 per cent of marine economy output, but remain a key economic driver for communities, particularly on the west coast.

Fast facts: National fisheries

Infrastructure Statistics (2023)

• Number of registered fishing vessels: 16,476
• Number of aquaculture establishments: 597

Gross value of outputs ($ thousands) (2023)

• Commercial sea and freshwater fisheries landings: 3,697,216
• Aquaculture production: 1,259,693
• Seafood product preparation and packaging revenues: 7,032,160

Employment (2023)

• Commercial fish harvesters and crew: 42,902
• Aquaculture operations: 3,675
• Seafood product preparation and packaging: 18,334

International trade ($ billions) (2024)

• Value of fish and seafood exports: 8.1 (7.6 in 2023)
• Value of fish and seafood imports: 4.9 (4.6 in 2023)
• Trade balance: 3.2 (3.0 in 2023)

Recreational fisheries statistics (2015)

• Number of active adult anglers: 3,240,413
• Direct expenditures ($ thousands): 2,544,967
• Direct investments ($ thousands): 2,588,943