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British Columbian farmed-salmon production is expected to rise from 32,000
metric tons in 1997 to 30,000 metric tons in 1998. The wholesale prices
of these fish will probably go down 5 to 10 percent as a result of this
increase.
On the Atlantic side, most fishing areas have continued to show a decline
in landings of 10 to 20 percent over the past two years. That trend is expected
to continue into the 1998 season. Over the past five years, a large segment
of Atlantic Canada's seafood industry has been forced to reinvent itself
in a struggle to survive as a result of declining fish populations. In 1995,
fueled by a huge increase in shellfish catches, the total value of seafood
exports from Atlantic Canada hit a record C$2 billion, before falling slightly
in 1996 to C$1.9 billion, as snow crab and cold-water shrimp prices slid. |
Salmon
Canada is expected to produce about about 9.3 million salmon this season.
This is about half the harvest volume of last year, when 18.4 million fish
were harvested. Some fear Canada's production may be below expectations.
As a result of decreased supply, prices on the canned salmon market may
get another boost if production in Canada is low.Bill
Court, 8/14/98
Tuna
The Canadian tunamarket has strengthened because the Boston fishery has
been temporarily closed. Some Canadian bluefin with better oil content has
been selling for between 4,000 and 6,000 yen/kg, however, much of the fish
is still very poor quality and much of itsells in the 1,500 to 2,800 yen/kg
range.Bill Court 8/13/98
Crab
The Newfoundland snow crab fishery was closed August 7th, 1998 with 92%
(45,300 tonnes) of the 49,125 tonne quota harvested. Approximately 26,000
tonnes were harvested through June and another 19,300 tonnes were harvested
between july 1st and the August 7th closure. Approximately15,000 tonnes
of crab sections were shipped to the US, 7,000 tonnes was exported to Japan,
2,500 tonnes went to other markets and 1,800 tonnes of crab meat was consumed
in Canada. An unusually large portion of the Newfoundland production went
to the US market. The Newfoundland snow crab fishery will re-open in September
for a harvest of about 3,825 tonnes.Bill Court 8/17/98 |