A sample of major Canadian fish stocks

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Geoduck  clam

Molluscs

The geoduck clam supports one of British Columbia’s most profitable fisheries, with a landed value of $40.5 million in 2014. It is managed by the Pacific region. The geoduck clam can reach more than 150 years of age and is among the world’s longest-lived animals. Fisheries and Oceans Canada classified it in the healthy zone.

Chinook salmon

Location: WCVI AABM
Salmonids​

​The Chinook salmon is the largest and longest-lived of the Pacific salmon species. The West Coast of Vancouver Island aggregate abundance-based management Chinook salmon stock is managed by the Pacific region jointly with the United States under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The Department classified this stock in the critical zone. The landed value of the catch was about $13.9 million in 2014.

Narwhal

Location: Eclipse Sound​
Marine Mammals

​The narwhal is a tusked marine mammal that lives in Canada’s North. It is managed by the Central and Arctic region with the involvement of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. It is fished exclusively through an Indigenous subsistence fishery, with narwhal tusks harvested from this fishery sold commercially. There were 135 Eclipse Sound narwhal caught in 2014, and it is classified in the healthy zone.

Capelin

Location: 4RST Area​
Small Pelagics

​Capelin provide a significant link in the food chain of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. This species is caught primarily for its roe (eggs). It is managed mainly by the Newfoundland and Labrador region with the participation of the Gulf region. Because of information gaps, the Department was unable to classify this stock in either the healthy, cautious, or critical zone. The landed value of the catch was about $1.8 million in 2014.

Lobster

Location: LFA 34​
Crustaceans

​The Lobster Fishing Area 34 lobster stock is managed by the Maritimes region and is classified in the healthy zone. It is Canada’s most commercially valuable stock, with the landed value of the catch being about $310 million in 2014.

Greenland halibut (Turbot)*​

Groundfish

​Greenland halibut is managed through the Central and Arctic, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec regions. It is a highly migratory groundfish, with some portions managed jointly with the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization. The Department has classified the northern and Gulf stocks in the healthy zone. Because of information gaps, the Department was unable to classify the Atlantic stock in the healthy, cautious, or critical zone. The Greenland halibut fishery is Canada’s most valuable groundfish fishery, with a landed value of $102 million in 2014.​

*Our audit examined three stocks of Greenland Halibut.

Bluefin tuna

Location: Western Atlantic​
Large Pelagics

​Bluefin tuna is managed through an international management regime with participation from Department Headquarters as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Gulf, and Maritimes regions. This tuna has a wide geographic range, reaching Newfoundland in the west Atlantic. The Department classified it in the cautious zone. The landed value of the catch was about $6 million in 2014.

Sources

Information from Fisheries and Oceans Canada

​Photos:​

Narwhal—© Linda Bucklin/Shutterstock.com

​Geoduck—© sasaken/Shutterstock.com

​Bluefin tuna—© holbox/Shutterstock.com

​Chinook salmon—© Dan Thornberg/Shutterstock.com

​Capelin—© D7INAMI7S/Shutterstock.com

​Lobster—© Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com

​Greenland halibut—© Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Geoduck  clam

Molluscs

The geoduck clam supports one of British Columbia’s most profitable fisheries, with a landed value of $40.5 million in 2014. It is managed by the Pacific region. The geoduck clam can reach more than 150 years of age and is among the world’s longest-lived animals. Fisheries and Oceans Canada classified it in the healthy zone.

Chinook salmon

Location: WCVI AABM
Salmonids​

​The Chinook salmon is the largest and longest-lived of the Pacific salmon species. The West Coast of Vancouver Island aggregate abundance-based management Chinook salmon stock is managed by the Pacific region jointly with the United States under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The Department classified this stock in the critical zone. The landed value of the catch was about $13.9 million in 2014.

Narwhal

Location: Eclipse Sound​
Marine Mammals

​The narwhal is a tusked marine mammal that lives in Canada’s North. It is managed by the Central and Arctic region with the involvement of the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. It is fished exclusively through an Indigenous subsistence fishery, with narwhal tusks harvested from this fishery sold commercially. There were 135 Eclipse Sound narwhal caught in 2014, and it is classified in the healthy zone.

Capelin

Location: 4RST Area​
Small Pelagics

​Capelin provide a significant link in the food chain of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. This species is caught primarily for its roe (eggs). It is managed mainly by the Newfoundland and Labrador region with the participation of the Gulf region. Because of information gaps, the Department was unable to classify this stock in either the healthy, cautious, or critical zone. The landed value of the catch was about $1.8 million in 2014.

Lobster

Location: LFA 34​
Crustaceans

​The Lobster Fishing Area 34 lobster stock is managed by the Maritimes region and is classified in the healthy zone. It is Canada’s most commercially valuable stock, with the landed value of the catch being about $310 million in 2014.

Greenland halibut (Turbot)*​

Groundfish

​Greenland halibut is managed through the Central and Arctic, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec regions. It is a highly migratory groundfish, with some portions managed jointly with the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization. The Department has classified the northern and Gulf stocks in the healthy zone. Because of information gaps, the Department was unable to classify the Atlantic stock in the healthy, cautious, or critical zone. The Greenland halibut fishery is Canada’s most valuable groundfish fishery, with a landed value of $102 million in 2014.​

*Our audit examined three stocks of Greenland Halibut.

Bluefin tuna

Location: Western Atlantic​
Large Pelagics

​Bluefin tuna is managed through an international management regime with participation from Department Headquarters as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Gulf, and Maritimes regions. This tuna has a wide geographic range, reaching Newfoundland in the west Atlantic. The Department classified it in the cautious zone. The landed value of the catch was about $6 million in 2014.

Sources

Information from Fisheries and Oceans Canada

​Photos:​

Narwhal—© Linda Bucklin/Shutterstock.com

​Geoduck—© sasaken/Shutterstock.com

​Bluefin tuna—© holbox/Shutterstock.com

​Chinook salmon—© Dan Thornberg/Shutterstock.com

​Capelin—© D7INAMI7S/Shutterstock.com

​Lobster—© Alexander Raths/Shutterstock.com

​Greenland halibut—© Fisheries and Oceans Canada