CANADIAN SEAFOOD EXPORT INFORMATION

TOP CANADIAN SEAFOOD EXPORTS TO THE U.S. BY VALUE (IN CAN$1,000,000):

Lobsters:

80% of Canada's live lobster exports come to U.S. Annual exports by dollar value have been decreasing steadily over the last 3 years, while exports by weight have remained more steady, declining at most 9%, from 2004-2005. Comparing Jan - Aug 2005 to Jan - Aug 2006, exports by dollar value were down about 13%.

Main import states for live lobsters:

STATE (% of exports going to state between Jan and Aug 2006, % change in exports to state from period Jan-Aug 2005 to period Jan-Aug 2006)

MA (56%, -10%)
ME (19%, -6%)
CT (8%, +1%)
NY (3%, -52%)
NJ (3%, -23%)

All other states, if they imported any live lobsters, had decreases in their imports for these two periods, except the following states:

Comparing Jan - Aug 2005 to Jan - Aug 2006, imports by dollar value were up about 16%.

Main import states for dead lobsters:

STATE (% of exports going to state between Jan and Aug 2006, % change in exports to state from period Jan-Aug 2005 to period Jan-Aug 2006)

Crabs (mostly Snow/Queen):

Comparing Jan - Aug 2005 to Jan - Aug 2006, sales were down about 10%. This is the main species targeted since it's easier to distinguish Canadian crabs from U.S. crabs than Canadian North American lobsters from U.S. North American lobsters.

Main import states for crabs:

STATE (% of exports going to state between Jan and Aug 2006, % change in exports to state from period Jan-Aug 2005 to period Jan-Aug 2006)

MA (44%, -11%)
NJ (9%, +9%)
FL (7%, +11%)
CA (6%, +3%)
NH (5%, -30%)
RI (4%, -52%)
NY (4%, +21%)

Main import states for shrimp and prawns:

STATE (% of exports going to state between Jan and Aug 2006, % change in exports to state from period Jan-Aug 2005 to period Jan-Aug 2006)

Salmon:

Comparing Jan - Aug 2005 to Jan - Aug 2006, sales were up overall almost 30%.

Sales were down on smoked salmon (Atlantic, Pacific, and Danube), including fillets, and on prepared and preserved salmon, but up almost 30% on fresh and chilled salmon (Atlantic, Pacific, and Danube, excluding fillets). This is the biggest market. More states increased imports than decreased imports, one state increasing imports by over a factor of 10: Nevada.

Main import states for fresh or chilled salmon:

STATE (% of exports going to state between Jan and Aug 2006, % change in exports to state from period Jan-Aug 2005 to period Jan-Aug 2006)

CA (33%, +82%)
WA (17%, -8%)
MA (17%, +23%)
NY (15%, +85%)
NJ (4%, +52%)
ME (3%, -55%)
OR (3%, +282%)
FL (2%, -24%)

Herring:

Comparing Jan - Aug 2005 to Jan - Aug 2006, most states with any imports have increased imports of herring from Canada and sales are up about 17%.

Main import states for herring:

STATE (% of exports going to state between Jan and Aug 2006, % change in exports to state from period Jan-Aug 2005 to period Jan-Aug 2006)

NY (16%, +47%)
IL (16%,+14%)
MA (12%, +14%)
NJ (10%, +322%)
WA(9%, +65%)
CA (9%, +10%)
FL (6%, -60%)
GA (3%, +228%)
ME (3%, -- was 0 in '05)
MN (3%, +202%)
IN (3%, +18%)

Scallops:

Comparing Jan - Aug 2005 to Jan - Aug 2006, most states with any imports have decreased imports of scallops from Canada and sales are down about 11%.

Main import states for scallops:

STATE (% of exports going to state between Jan and Aug 2006, % change in exports to state from period Jan-Aug 2005 to period Jan-Aug 2006)

MA (52%, -42%)
VA (29%,+2,143%)
ME (8%, -18%)
RI (3%, +14%)
NH(3%, -14%)
CA (2%, -20%)

Our conclusions:

Some progress has been made, particularly with shrimp, snow crabs, and live lobsters, but we must now focus on reducing Canadian lobster, snow crab, shrimp, and scallops imports in Massachusetts, and salmon imports in California. Note: it is possible that the states listed above are not always the final destination for this seafood. Importers in Massachusetts may sell some seafood to retailers in other states. However, this is the best information that we have at this time. We will continue to gather as much data as we can.

If you live in Massachusetts or California (or any states listed above), please get involved in the seal campaign today. Visit our 'how you can help' pages, and contact us for more information/guidance or to volunteer.