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Shellfish Processing Industry in Eastern Canada

Shellfish species Processed in Eastern Canada

SHELLFISH PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN EASTERN CANADA

Seafood consumption is increasing worldwide. In Eastern Canada, the number of people engaged in fish and shellfish processing has declined somewhat in recent years due to the collapse of regional groundfish stocks and advances in technology. Despite this overall decline, an estimated 32,000 workers were employed in fish and shellfish processing plants in Eastern Canada in 2004. Of these, an estimated 22,000 are shellfish processing workers. Table 1 contains estimates of the number of people engaged in fish and shellfish processing by province in 2004 - 2005.

Table 1. Estimated number of seafood processing workers in Eastern Canada by Province (2004 – 2005).

1 Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. ( January 2006).
2 Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. (January 2006).
3 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture and Forestry, Government of Prince Edward Island (January 2006).
4 Department of Training and Employment Development, Government of New Brunswick (January 2006).
5 Conseillère en pêches et aquiculture, Government of Quebec (February 2006).
*Note: We have estimated the number of shellfish processing workers in Nova Scotia from labour force data provided by the Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia.
**Note: This number was a 2004 estimate from the New Brunswick Government for fish and shellfish processing workers.

Table 2 lists the number of plants with shellfish processing licenses and fish processing licenses in each of the provinces in the region. Although Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest number of shellfish processing workers in 2004 - 2005, Nova Scotia had the highest number of shellfish processing plants (194).

Table 2. Estimated number of shellfish processing licenses and fish processing licenses in Eastern Canada by Province (2004 – 2005).

1. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. ( January 2006).
2. Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. (January 2006). 
3. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture and Forestry, Government of Prince Edward Island   (January 2006).
4. Department of Training and Employment Development, Government of New Brunswick (January 2006).
5. Conseillère en pêches et aquiculture, Government of Quebec (February 2006).

Production of shellfish is increasing more rapidly than other types of seafood both globally and in Eastern Canada. In 2004 - 2005 shellfish landings represented 74% of total Eastern Canadian sea fisheries. The most important types of shellfish processed in Eastern Canada (Figure 1) include snow crab, northern shrimp, scallop (mainly Icelandic), lobster, clam (soft shelled and quahaug), blue mussel, and oyster. Other crab species (i.e. rock, toad, and Jonah) are increasing but are still relatively small.

Figure 1 . Dominant shellfish species processed (landings) in Eastern Canada (2004).

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