The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, explained that the government is extremely pleased to see such positive performance in our province’s fishing industry. He further said that the Williams Administration has been very proactive in doing what is necessary to grow our fishing and aquaculture industries through the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy and aquaculture investment attraction programs.
It is told that the landed value of seafood is forecast to increase by 12.8 percent for 2008 to approximately $540 million, while there will also be a slight increase in landed volumes. Record shows that the andings of snow crab are estimated to have increased for the year and the price of the product rebounded from previously low levels. Landed value is estimated to have increased significantly due to increased prices for certain species such as inshore northern and gulf shrimp, and capelin.
Shellfish landings for 2008 are forecast to total 197,000 tonnes. Shellfish experienced a substantial increase in landings because of increases in some key areas including inshore northern shrimp, snow crab and lobster. The landings of snow crab are estimated to have increased five per cent in 2008 from 51,165 tonnes to approximately 52,750 tonnes. This was due to both increased catch rates as well as increased quotas.
Groundfish landings in 2008 are forecast to have increased significantly from 2007 with an increase of over 23 per cent from 40,505 to 50,000 tonnes. Pelagic landings are estimated to have decreased by 15 per cent from 2007. Seal landings were on par with the previous year. However, landed value dropped by approximately 40 per cent.
Minister Hedderson said that there were positive developments in 2008 that bode well for the future including Marine Stewardship Council certification of northern trawl shrimp. He added that there should be awareness of issues such as competition from low-cost producers and the global financial crisis.
