Statistics
Source:
British
Columbia's Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector - September 2002 BCSTATS
British Columbia's fisheries and aquaculture sector has four
principal economic components:
commercial fishing, sport fishing
(both inland and tidal),
aquaculture and seafood processing.
In total, the sector contributes more than $1.9 billion in revenues to
the provincial economy and accounts for more than $601 million in GDP
annually.
Much of the economic activity associated with the sector is located
in rural communities. The non-tidal sport fish and the freshwater
aquaculture components are spread through the rural interior of the
province while the remainder of the activity occurs up and down the
coast.
Commercial Fishing is the
harvesting of more than 80 species of aquatic plants and animals from
the oceans and rivers. Commercial fishing occurs off the mainland coast,
all around Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Islands and along the rivers of
B.C. Commercial fishing generates $170 million a year in GDP.
Aquaculture is the
farming of fish, shellfish and aquatic plants in both freshwater and
saltwater environments. Privately owned and operated aquaculture
facilities culture salmon and shellfish species primarily on ocean
foreshore or deepwater sites. Freshwater aquaculture occurs inland with
commercial hatcheries, "U-Catch-Em" operations and pond or lake grow-out
enterprises. Aquaculture generates $116 million a year in GDP.
Seafood Processing is
carried out in more than 200 fish processing facilities throughout the
province. Processors handle fish from both the wild harvest and the
aquaculture sectors, producing fresh, frozen, canned and smoked products
primarily for export markets. Fish processing generates $82 million a
year in GDP.
Sport Fishing occurs in both
tidal and fresh waters throughout the province. A major tourist
attraction for both domestic and foreign tourism markets - the sector
supports about 8,900 jobs. Sport fishing generates $233 million a year
in GDP. The non-tidal (freshwater) recreational fishery is managed by
the Ministry of
Water, Land and Air Protection.
Other Fisheries & Aquaculture
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Updated:
July 12, 2006
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