1. Fisheries Labour Market Information Study
BC Consultations
February 21st, 2018

2. CCPFH Seasonal Workforce Labour Market Information Study
$1.7 million funding from Employment & Social Development Canada
Objectives:
Inform industry and governments on current labour supply trends and challenges in fish harvesting
Advice to industry and government on strategies to renew/rebuild labour force

3. The fishing industry offers medium to long-term potential to drive significant socio-economic development in fisheries dependent regions of Canada
Ecologically limited supply of wild caught fish
More consumers demanding more seafood in global markets
Long-term growth in market value of seafood products
Constant dollar (2015) value of Canadian seafood exports grew 10% annually over the 2012 to 2016 period, compared to 6% for agrifood and 1% for all industries

4. Ecotrust Canada December 2017
We know that the economics is only one part of the story – once seafood is landed at the dock, the value increases when it gets to wholesale and gets much larger when accounting for the other tangible and intangible values
Ecotrust Canada December 2017

5. Rising global demand for seafood products
Looming demographic and labour supply challenges put the economic growth potential of the fish harvesting industry at risk
Rising global demand for seafood products
Demographic and labour market constraints

6. Demographic, Population Mobility and Labour Market Competition Trends All Negative for Fishery
Critical Labour Shortages
Aging Rural Workforce & Population
Urbanization
Inter-provincial & International Migration
Labour Market Competition

7. Age Profile - BC Fish Harvesters
Age group
2001
2016
15-29
15%
30-44
34%
21%
45-54
26%
24%
>54
42%
Census Canada

8. Strong Industry Consensus on How to Rebuild Fish Harvesting Labour Force
Improve business viability of fishing enterprises
Multi-species fleets
Longer seasons
Industry collaboration to build markets & product value
Measure to make licenses and quotas affordable for committed professional fish harvesters
Limits on speculative investors
Access to capital
New ownership structures (e.g., license and quota banks)
12/8/17
CCPFH

9. Average Fishing Income 2015
British Columbia fishery is not seeing growth comparable to other fishing regions
Weaker trends in employment, harvester incomes and value of landings and exports
Potential benefits of renewed fishery for coastal regions and Indigenous communities justify a deeper look at industry structures and the policy approach in this region
Average Fishing Income 2015
Canada
$28,615
British Columbia
$19,100
Newfoundland
$29,186
Nova Scotia
$37,046

10. Average Fishing Incomes Self-Employed Harvesters, Constant Dollars (2015)
+ 73%
- 29%
Statistics Canada, Tax Filer Data

11. Changes in Landed Volumes and Values, British Columbia, 2000 to 2015 Indexed to 2000
Sources:

12. Changes in Landed Volumes and Values, Atlantic Canada, 2000 to 2015 Indexed to 2000
Sources:

13. Changes in Landed Volumes and Values, Alaska 2000 to 2015 Indexed to 2000
Sources:

14. Policy Opportunity…….
DFO Minister LeBlanc - Bill C-68 to amend the Fisheries Act to make “recognition of social, economic, and cultural factors, as well as the preservation or promotion of the independence of licence holders in commercial inshore fisheries” integral to fisheries management and licensing policies in Canada
In Atlantic Canada, that means entrenching the Owner Operator and Fleet Separation Policies
What does it mean in BC?
Opportunity for stakeholders in BC to articulate new objectives for role of fishery in rural-coastal economic development and community stabilization

15. Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters
CONTACT US
Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters
33 Rue Laval, Gatineau, Quebec J8X 3G87
P (819)
fishharvesterspecheurs.ca