OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 15, 2010) -

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The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today released the preliminary trade figures for Canada's exports of fish and seafood products in 2009, which totalled more than $3.6 billion.

"Canada is clearly a leader in the production of high-quality, safe and nutritious fish and seafood," said Minister Shea. "Consumers around the world can be confident that Canadian products are also sustainably harvested and farmed according to rigorous environmental monitoring and management regulations."

Seafood is one of the largest single food commodities exported by Canada—with close to two-thirds of Canada's exports destined for markets in the United States and another 22 per cent predominantly destined for European countries and Japan. In terms of value, the top five exported species by Canadian industries are lobster, snow/queen crab, Atlantic salmon, shrimp/prawn, and herring.

"The stability, predictability, and innovation of Canada's fish and seafood sector are key elements that are helping our businesses remain profitable and competitive, while providing thousands of Canadians with jobs," said Minister Shea. "Our government will continue to work in support of our industries as we move toward economic recovery."

The preliminary international trade figures for Canada's fish and seafood exports were released during the annual International Boston Seafood Show taking place from March 14-16, 2010. The event is the largest North American fish and seafood trade show, which attracts the participation of thousands of seafood buyers and sellers from around the world.

During the Show's opening day, Minister Shea met with Canadian exporters and US importers of Canadian fish and seafood products to discuss market-related issues and promote the methods used by Canada's industries to sustainably harvest and farm fish and seafood resources. The Minister also toured the exhibits and participated in the official opening of the Atlantic Canada pavilion with her colleague, the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway.

More detailed information about Canada's fish and seafood exports can be found at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/stats-eng.htm. For information about Canada's wild fishing and aquaculture practices and management regulations, visit www.sustainable-seafood.ca.

BACKGROUNDER

Provincial and Territorial Breakdown of Canada's Fish and Seafood Exports in 2009

Seafood is one of the largest single food commodities exported by Canada. Preliminary international trade figures show that Canada's exports of fish and seafood products were more than $3.6 billion in 2009. Two-thirds of these exports were destined for the United States at a value of more than $2.3 billion. The European Union is also a significant market, importing more than $416 million, or about 11 per cent of Canada's fish and seafood products. Japan remains the third largest trading partner, with exports worth $264 million last year.

Hong Kong and Iceland were growing export destinations for Canada's fish and seafood products in 2009. Valued at close to $90 million in 2009, our exports to Hong Kong increased by 24 per cent over the past year, while our exports to Iceland increased by 89 per cent to $18.4 million in 2009.

Canada's five most valuable exports by species were lobster, snow/queen crab, Atlantic salmon, shrimp/prawn, and herring. These species account for 49 per cent of all fish and seafood exports by volume and 63 per cent of the value. Lobster remains Canada's top export species in terms of value, with 2009 exports totalling more than $800 million.

In 2009, the top exporting provinces of fish and seafood in terms of value were, in order, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island. The key exporting territories were the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Details about the 2009 export volume and value of Canada's fish and seafood products by these provinces and territories are featured below:

BRITISH COLUMBIA:

• Canada's top exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $882.8 million.
• Exported 162,834 tonnes (t) of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were farmed Atlantic salmon (49,543 t valued at $330.9 million), herring (3,470 t valued at $57.6 million), and crab (5,862 t valued at $54.5 million).

NOVA SCOTIA:

• Canada's second leading exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $809.7 million.
• Exported 111,454 t of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were lobster (23,065 t valued at $353.8 million), scallops (4,946 t valued at $88.4 million), and snow/queen crab (8,519 t valued at $72.8 million).

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR:

• Canada's third leading exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $720.5 million.
• Exported 167,691 t of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were snow/queen crab (31,571 t valued at $270.3 million), shrimp/prawn (52,384 t valued at $191.1 million), and mackerel (22,981 t valued at $37.2 million).

NEW BRUNSWICK:

• Canada's fourth leading exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $695.5 million.
• Exported 93,115 t of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were lobster (13,496 t valued at $294.6 million), farmed Atlantic salmon (22,945 t valued at $169.3 million), and snow/queen crab (8,942 t at a value of $75.1 million).

QUEBEC:

• Canada's fifth leading exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $239.8 million.
• Exported 28,924 t of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were snow/queen crab (9,133 t valued at $78.2 million), lobster (2,031 t valued at $42.6 million), and shrimp/prawn (1,727 t valued at $16.2 million).

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND:

• Canada's sixth leading exporter of fish and seafood, valued at $151.6 million.
• Exported 18,528 t of fish and seafood products.
• The three most valuable species exported by this province were lobster (5,238 t valued at $103.1 million), mussels (10,014 t valued at $29.1 million), and snow/queen crab (621 t valued at $5.3 million).

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES:

• Canada's leading exporting territory of fish and seafood, valued at $853.5 thousand.
• Exported 211.8 t of fish and seafood products.
• The two most valuable species exported by this territory were shrimp (142 t valued at $441 thousand), and turbot (Greenland halibut) (33 t valued at $296 thousand).

NUNAVUT:

• Canada's second exporting territory of fish and seafood, valued at $575.7 thousand
• Exported 99.5 t of fish and seafood products.
• The most valuable species exported by this territory was turbot (Greenland halibut) (95 t valued at $510 thousand).

More detailed information about Canada's fish and seafood exports can be found at Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Statistical Services at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/stats-eng.htm.

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