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British Columbia's seafood industry
is a vital element in both the economic success of the province
and the social fabric of numerous coastal communities. BC seafood
products are derived from over 80 different species of finfish,
shellfish and plants from both the freshwater and marine environments.
The wholesale value of wild and aquaculture harvests averages about
$1.2 billion annually with wild and farmed salmon making up about
half of that total.
Over 90 percent of seafood produced
in B.C. is exported. British Columbia's seafood products were shipped to 70 countires in 2006, generating a total export value of $987 million.
Employment from fish harvesting,
vending, buying and brokering to aquaculture and fish processing:
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The industry
employs about 18,800 people in full or part-time positions
coast wide (approx 11,000 full-time job equivalents). |
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There are about
7,300 licensed harvesters. |
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Over 9,100 jobs
are in value added processing at approximately 180 licensed processing
plants in the province. |
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There are close
to 2,400.direct jobs involved in primary aquaculture production.
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For
a more complete picture of the industry see the following reports:
2006 British Columbia Seafood Industry Year in Review: Year In Review -2006
BC Seafood Alliance releases Economic Contribution of BC Seafood and Tidal Recreational Fishing 2005.
An
Assessment of the BC Seafood Sector and Tidal Water Recreational
Fishing 2004. Strengthes, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Analysis (SWOT)
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/omfd/reports/SWOT/index.html
Price Waterhouse Coopers: State
of the B.C. Seafood Industry Report
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