The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, is attending the Seafood Expo North America 2018 at the Boston Convention Centre. Minister Byrne will host a reception for industry on March 10 and attend the expo on March 11 where he will highlight Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2017 Seafood Industry Year in Review document and provide a comprehensive overview of the province’s wild and farmed fisheries.
The province’s fishing and aquaculture industries enjoyed another successful year in 2017 with the value of total fish and seafood production reaching close to $1.3 billion and remaining near the historical high of 2016. This is the third consecutive year the value has exceeded one billion dollars. Details on the 2017 Seafood Industry Year in Review are provided in the attached backgrounder with the document available at www.fishaq.gov.nl.ca/publications/pdf/SYIR_2017.pdf .
Seafood Expo North America is the largest seafood trade event in North America, attracting over 22,000 industry representatives from more than 120 countries and featuring over 1,340 exhibiting companies from 53 countries.
The seafood industry is an integral component of the provincial economy employing more than 16,600 people from over 400 communities in harvesting, processing, and aquaculture operations.
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“Fostering growth in the fishing and aquaculture industries is a key element of The Way Forward vision to strengthen the province’s economic foundation and promote a healthy and prosperous province. Our presence at the Seafood Expo North America supports efforts to showcase our success to markets eager to hear more about our world-class products, and the 2017 Seafood Industry Year in Review tells an important story; that of a province strategically positioning itself for growth as a global player in a challenging and competitive sector. As we reflect on recent past success with an eye to future opportunities, I look forward to returning from Boston with renewed purpose and focus as we seek further opportunities for development and innovation during this exciting time in the global seafood industry.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
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Learn More
2017 Seafood Industry Year in Review – www.fishaq.gov.nl.ca/publications/pdf/SYIR_2017.pdf
Seafood Expo North America – seafoodexpo.com/north-america/
The Way Forward – thewayforward.gov.nl.ca/
Media contact
Connie Boland
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6409
connieboland@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
2017 Seafood Industry Year in Review
Commercial fishery landings in 2017 increased by four per cent generating $777 million, the second highest landed value in the province’s history.
Total production value of the provincial aquaculture industry in 2017 was $221 million, a decrease from peak production of $276 million in 2016. By 2019, production is expected to rise above the 2016 level.
Shellfish production continued to account for the majority of the commercial fishery with the landed value increasing six per cent to $634 million.
The landed value of seal products increased 22 per cent to $2 million.