March, 2014
Fish and seafood are among the largest single food commodities exported by Canada. In 2013, Canada exported $4.4 billion of fish and seafood products, an increase of $268 million from 2012. Approximately 85 percent of all fish landed by Canadian harvesters are exported to foreign markets.
International trade figures show that 63 percent of Canadian fish and seafood exports were destined for the United States at a value of $2.8 billion. The People’s Republic of China and the European Union were important export markets in 2013, accounting for $454 million and $372 million worth of exports respectively. These two markets accounted for 19 percent of total Canadian fish and seafood exports worldwide.
The Government of Canada also announced on March 11, that Canada and the Republic of Korea have concluded negotiations for a Canada- Korea Free Trade Agreement. The agreement will eliminate all Korean tariffs on fish and seafood products and create jobs and opportunity for Canadians. In 2013, Canada exported $48 million of fish and seafood to South Korea.
Canada’s largest exports by species were lobster, snow/queen crab, farmed Atlantic salmon and shrimp. In 2013, these species represented 62 percent ($2.7 billion) of the total value and 47 percent (281 thousand tonnes) of the total volume of fish and seafood exports. Lobster remains Canada’s top export species in terms of value, with $1.2 billion of exports in 2013.
In 2013, provincially, the largest exporter of fish and seafood products was Nova Scotia, followed by New Brunswick, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Prince Edward Island.
Details about the 2013 provincial and territorial exports of fish and seafood products are presented below:
- Canada’s thirteenth largest exporter of fish and seafood, with exports valued at $147,254.
- Exported approximately 36 tonnes of fish and seafood.
News release: Minister Shea announces that Canadian seafood exports continued to grow in 2013
