Although aquaculture continued to expand its presence in the Canadian province, the wild fishery remained the backbone of Newfoundland and Labrador's seafood industry in 2025.
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The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture released its 'Seafood Industry Year in Review 2025' report, highlighting that the value of the seafood industry in the Canadian province exceeded CAD 2 billion last year.
Specifically, in 2025, the combined market value of Newfoundland and Labrador's wild fisheries and aquaculture industries reached CAD 2.11 billion, one of the highest totals on record. "Shellfish and groundfish continue to drive the provincial economy and support many livelihoods and communities throughout the province," the NL Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture emphasized in its release.
Loyola O'Driscoll, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, also stressed that idea. "Our seafood industry continues to be a major economic driver for Newfoundland and Labrador, supporting workers, families and communities throughout the province," he said.
"Surpassing CAD 2 billion in market value is a significant milestone that reflects the strength of our local fishing and aquaculture industries as well as the global reputation of our quality seafood products," Minister O'Driscoll added.
In 2025, with 230,323 tons of catch landed, the market value of the wild fishery industry was CAD 1.66 billion. Thus, the 'Seafood Industry Year in Review 2025' report highlighted that "the wild fishery remained the backbone of the industry."
Shellfish landings totalled 139,114 tons, equivalent to a value of CAD 1.1 billion. Meanwhile, groundfish landings totalled 48,501 tons, with a value of CAD 135 million, and pelagic landings totalled 39,954 tons, reaching a value of CAD 28 million.
Regarding wild species, the undisputed leader was the snow crab with landings of 61,161 tons valued at CAD 708 million. However, other species also registered a solid performance, such as shrimp with 27,789 tons valued at CAD 139 million; lobster with 8,842 tons equivalent to CAD 136 million; cod, with 28,479 tons valued at CAD 62.2 million; and turbot (Greenland halibut), which, with 8,357 tons landed, achieved a value of CAD 45.8 million.
Regarding the aquaculture industry, with a production of 37,480 tons in farming sites distributed throughout the province—there are 153 licensed salmonid and shellfish aquaculture sites and 13,359 hectares of water in use—this reached a value of CAD 453 million.
In the case of salmonids, Atlantic salmon, with a production of 30,567 tons valued at CAD 392 million, and steelhead trout, with a production of 3,648 tons valued at CAD 40 million, are the primary species farmed in the province. Meanwhile, shellfish aquaculture—which focuses mainly on blue mussels and American oysters—recorded a total production of 3,265 tons, equivalent to CAD 21 million.
In its report, Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture highlighted that the sector continues to expand its presence in coastal communities. A regional poll conducted on behalf of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) and presented last February found 85% of Atlantic Canadians support the aquaculture industry, representing not only an increase of four points since 2024 but also a record high. In the specific case of Newfoundland and Labrador, the report noted that support stands at 83%, up 1 point from 2024.
The strong year recorded in 2025 by the seafood industry of Newfoundland and Labrador was also reflected in its export figures, which reached approximately CAD 1.75 billion, with the United States being the main destination, with purchases of CAD 1.26 billion, followed by China, which was the second most important market, with CAD 221 million.
Further behind, the top 5 main destinations for seafood exports from Newfoundland and Labrador in 2025 were completed by the United Kingdom with CAD 54 million, Denmark with CAD 37 million and Japan with CAD 33 million.
Finally, Newfoundland and Labrador's 'Seafood Industry Year in Review 2025' report noted that, last year, the sector generated more than 16,900 jobs, including 9,710 registered fishers, 6,703 fish processing plant workers—there are 87 registered in the province—and 584 aquaculture sector employees.
As the NL Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture highlighted in its release, "that makes the seafood industry one of the largest private-sector employers in the province."
This year, the report is accessible through a new interactive webpage. The figures in it—which, for the moment, are preliminary and subject to review—were sourced from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFO) and Statistics Canada.