According to preliminary data from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the value of landings from commercial fisheries in Quebec reached a new record in 2017 with a value of $359.7 million.
With total landings of 54,664 tonnes in 2017, volume is up only 1%, but product value jumped 33% from 2016.
The increase in landed value is mainly attributable to snow crab and lobster. The value of snow crab increased from $111.2 million in 2016 to $182.9 million in 2017, while that of lobster increased by 52% to $116.2 million. 2017.
Landings of lobsters, crabs, mackerel and Greenland halibut increased during the last season.
In total, 75% of all landings in Quebec were made in Gaspésie (58%) and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine in 2017 (17%). The remaining landings, 25% of the total volume, were made on the North Shore wharves for a value of $ 77.3 million.
In the Gaspé Peninsula, landings were valued at $ 184.1 million in 2017 and $ 97.3 million in the Magdalen Islands. This is a significant growth of 71% in the value of landings in the Madelinot archipelago between 2016 and 2017.
Last year, Quebec exported $ 450 million worth of marine products, which represents a 35% increase over the 2016 season. The main export market remains the United States, with 80% of sales, followed by Japan and Europe.
Once again, it is shrimp, lobster and snow crab that are winning the favor of foreign markets.
