The Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry is expected to record
a solid performance in 2004. The amount of fish landed is forecast
to be on par with 2003, unchanged from expectations in March. While
the volume of landings will approximate last year’s level, the value
of landings is expected to be somewhat higher in 2004 because of
higher crab prices. |
Groundfish |
| Groundfish (e.g., cod, turbot) landings
in 2004 are expected to be slightly higher than 2003, as outlined in
the accompanying table. The main reason for this increase is higher
cod landings due to the re-opening of the Gulf fishery (southwest
coast of Newfoundland). While groundfish landings have been
increasing slowly over the past several years, they remain at
historically low levels. |
| Landings (metric tonnes) |
|
2003 |
2004f |
Percent
Change |
| Groundfish |
57,000 |
58,000 |
1.8% |
| Pelagics |
70,000 |
72,000 |
2.8% |
| Shellfish |
174,000 |
173,000 |
-0.6% |
| Total |
301,000 |
303,000 |
0.7% |
f: forecast
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture |
|
Pelagics |
| Pelagic landings (e.g., capelin,
mackerel, herring) are expected to increase by almost 3% this year
primarily due to a much improved capelin fishery. Increased
availability of capelin combined with improved market conditions
resulted in a harvest of about 32,000 tonnes this year compared with
about 22,000 tonnes in 2003. |
|
|
Shellfish |
Shellfish landings are expected to fall slightly in 2004 due mainly to a
decline in crab landings. The snow crab is the most important species of
the fishery today in terms of employment and income. Crab landings in
2004 are expected to be about 55,000 tonnes versus 58,000 in the
previous year. A reduced total allowable catch is behind the decline:
approximately 85% of the decrease in quota occurred in NAFO areas 2J and
3PS. Despite the decline in crab landings, the value of the catch rose
on the strength of higher prices to fishermen. Crab prices averaged
about $2.45/lb in 2004, about 14% higher than the previous year.
Shrimp is another shellfish species that is a significant contributor to
the fishery. Shrimp landings in 2004 are expected to rise slightly to
90,000 tonnes up from 87,000 last year. While concerns about market
conditions persist, some improvement was noted in the latter portion of
2004. Stocks continue to remain healthy so, in the short term, the local
fishery will be influenced primarily by market trends. |
Seals |
| Sealing activity has increased in recent
years as a result of higher demand for seal products. Supported by a
strong resource, the number of seals harvested rose from about 289,000
in 2003 to approximately 306,000 in 2004, the highest harvest level
recorded in many years. |
Seafood Production |
| While final figures were not available at
the time of writing, seafood production values may decline somewhat this
year due to a strengthening Canadian dollar. |
|
