British Columbia’s seafood sector is renowned for its commitment to food safety, traceability, and sustainability, earning it an international reputation for high-quality products.
In 2022, the province’s seafood industry reported significant economic contributions:
- Total Sales: The combined value of wild commercial and aquaculture seafood production was approximately $1.34 billion.
- Top Seafood Commodities: The leading products in terms of sales included farmed Atlantic salmon, halibut, crabs, wild geoduck, clams, wild chum salmon, farmed Pacific salmon, rockfish, wild sablefish, wild chinook salmon, and herring.
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The seafood sector contributed significantly to the provincial economy, with a total estimated GDP of $415 million, accounting for 0.2% of B.C.’s total GDP.
These figures highlight the vital role of the seafood industry in British Columbia’s economy and its ongoing commitment to sustainable and high-quality seafood production.
Salmon farming supports 7,000 jobs in coastal communities and contributes about C$1.5 billion ($1.09 billion) annually to the provincial economy, according to the BC Salmon Farmers Association.