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 In spite of the moratorium imposed
on the groundfish fisheries in 1993, the fisheries' industry
in the Iles de la Madeleine is still the most important economic
activity in the area, with economic spin-offs reaching more than
54 million dollars. This really is the developmental lever that
the community counts on and will continue to count on for decades
to come. The sea products industry is still the main source of
employment and accounts for, in the primary and secondary sectors,
two jobs out of three in the local economy. Actual numbers for
1995 total 419 fishermen who own their own boats, 885 crew members
and 1071 fish plant workers spread out among the 10 licensed
factories.
In the same year, 1995, the
fishing industries of the Iles de la Madeleine processed the
following species:
| Species |
Landings in 1995 (metric tons) |
Spin-offs generated in 1995 (millions $) |
| Lobster |
2 035 |
27,0 |
| Crab |
947 |
15,5 |
| Groundfish |
1 500 |
5,7 |
| Herring |
1 600 |
2,4 |
| Mackerel |
1 900 |
2,3 |
| Scallops |
61 |
1,0 |
| Others |
245 |
0,425 |
This chart helps us to establish
that lobster and crab account for almost 80% of the entire value
produced locally, that is to say, just under 43 million dollars
out of the 54 million dollars total, which gives them important
status in the local economy. However, these two species have
only a small influence on the number of jobs created in the processing
plants, lobster, for example, being sold alive in 90% of the
cases. In this context, one can understand the importance of
the mackerel and herring harvesting and processing industry for
the benefit of the CAID (Canadian Agency for International Development),
operations which account for the majority of fish plant jobs.
The fisheries industry still
suffers a lot due to the lack of diversity among its activities.
In order to face, on the one hand the market's challenges and,
on the other hand, the need for seasonal workers to extend their
period of employment, the industry recognized that in the years
to come it will have to invest in tapping into and processing
new marine species, as well as a diversified processing of traditional
species. Already, efforts have been made in order to harvest,
process and market clams, sea knives and sea-urchins. Some other
businessmen are now working on a diversification of the herring
product's market.
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Economy