The fishing industry recorded another strong
performance in 2003, largely on the strength of a robust crab
fishery. Total landings increased by 12% to about 301,000 tonnes.
Landed value increased by 11% in 2003 to $560 million from $505
million in 2002. Production value rose by 6% and exceeded $1
billion in 2003 for the fourth consecutive year.
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| Fish Landings |
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2002 (R) |
2003 (P) |
% Change |
| Landings (tonnes) |
| Groundfish |
60,170 |
57,473 |
-4% |
| Pelagics |
50,233 |
69,661 |
39% |
| Shellfish |
157,633 |
173,915 |
10% |
| Total |
268,035 |
301,049 |
12% |
| Seals (number) |
310,000 |
289,000 |
-7% |
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| Landed Value ($ millions) |
| Groundfish |
$63.3 |
$65.8 |
4% |
| Pelagics |
$12.9 |
$17.2 |
33% |
| Shellfish |
$411.7 |
$465.1 |
13% |
| Seals |
$17.6 |
$12.1 |
-31% |
| Total |
$505.4 |
$560.2 |
11% |
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Note: R - Revised; P - Preliminary
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture |
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| Outlook
For 2004
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Fish landings are expected to be roughly on par with 2003. |
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Structural issues in the industry will likely challenge all players particularly those in the shrimp sector. |
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Aquaculture: gains in salmon production are expected in 2004 and beyond as existing operations raise production levels and new operators come on stream. |
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Crab |
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Crab receipts, which comprise about 50% of the landed value, rose by approximately 21% to $277 million. The increase was due to higher prices. Strong market conditions, mainly in the U.S. and Japan, prevailed throughout 2003. As well, news that supplies would again be constrained by a lackluster performance in
Alaska's crab fishery supported higher prices. Canadian producers' revenues rose as increases in U.S. denominated prices rose more than enough to offset the effects of a strengthened Canadian dollar. The quantity of landings fell slightly in 2003 due to modest quota reductions.
The outlook for crab, the industry's most important species, is good from a market perspective. The crab resource appears to be fairly stable in major fishing areas, however, some decline was noted off Labrador and on the south coast of the Island. If further quota reductions are implemented in these areas the overall harvest level may decline slightly in 2004. |
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Shrimp |
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The value of shrimp landings, the second most important species to the fishery, fell by 1.3% to $141 million in 2003. This occurred despite a 14% rise in the quantity landed. While prices for cooked and peeled coldwater shrimp in the U.S. market remained fairly steady,
exporters' revenues were squeezed by a strengthening Canadian dollar exerting downward pressure on prices paid to harvesters.
The provincial shrimp fishery has experienced growing pains since the expansion of wet fish inshore activities in 1997. The industry now consists of two main sectors: the wet fish fleet, catching and providing plants with raw material for the production of cooked and peeled shrimp, and the offshore fleet, primarily producing frozen at sea product. Wet fish now comprise about 61% of shrimp landings and its rapid growth has presented challenges including the timing of harvesting and processing activities and transportation of raw material. Some of the structural problems have been exacerbated by weak market conditions, changing exchange rates and high tariffs in the major coldwater shrimp-consuming nations of Europe. As a result, the industry has developed an implementation plan to deal with many of these issues.
From a resource perspective, shrimp stocks in northern fishing zones appear stable while stocks in southern zones appear to be at historically high levels. |
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Other Species |
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Aquaculture |
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Other significant species in 2003 included lobster ($25 million), turbot ($21 million), cod ($18 million), clams ($18 million), seals ($12 million), mackerel ($10 million) and yellowtail flounder ($9 million). With the exception of a decline in cod landings and a modest reduction in the number of seals taken last year, remaining fisheries noted a better performance than 2002. The outlook for the seal industry is especially bright reflecting high prices for many seal products, processing expansions and continued market development. |
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Last year, provincial aquaculture production (all species) was approximately 3,900
tonnes, down from 4,663 tonnes recorded in 2002. Lower volumes were mainly the result of poorer market conditions for mussel products.
Aquaculture is taking on added significance globally. Aquaculture's contribution to world fish landings continues to grow, increasing from 7.3 million tonnes (9.7% of total production) in 1980 to 48.4 million tonnes (34.1% of total production) in 2001. Significant advancements are expected in provincial aquaculture activity. The province is aggressively pursuing commercialization of the cod aquaculture industry. The industry's goal is to produce 32,000 tonnes of farmed cod for market by 2010.
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| Aquaculture Industry Profile
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Newfoundland and Labrador, 2003
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| Employment |
500 |
| Export Value |
$16 Million |
| Commercial Shellfish Sites |
62 |
| Commercial Finfish Sites |
24 |
| Aquaculture Tonnage |
3,900 |
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Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture |
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Fishing Vessels
Photo Credit: Dept. of Fisheries and Aquaculture |
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