Harvest levels of key fish stocks
Access PDF (529 kB)
Harvest limits for wild fish and other marine animals are set to protect these stocks for the future. The indicator compares actual harvest rates with established harvest limits for key fish stocks and other marine animals. Some fish stocks have a removal reference, which is the maximum acceptable removal rate or level for the stock based on historical stock productivity data. When removal references are not available, actual harvest levels are compared to other approved levels such as total allowable catch.
National
National harvest levels
Key results
- Of the 199 key stocks assessed in 2023:
- 194 stocks (97%) were harvested at or below the removal reference or other approved level
- 5 stocks (3%) were harvested above a removal reference or other approved level
- From 2012 to 2023, the percentage of stocks harvested above approved levels has been consistently low (below 5% of total stocks)
Harvest of key stocks relative to approved levels, Canada, 2011 to 2023
Data table for the long description
| Year | At or below removal reference (number of stocks) |
At or below other approved levels (number of stocks) |
Above removal references or other approved levels (number of stocks) |
Total (number of stocks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 68 | 71 | 16 | 155 |
| 2012 | 64 | 84 | 7 | 155 |
| 2013 | 64 | 87 | 4 | 155 |
| 2014 | 66 | 86 | 2 | 154 |
| 2015 | 71 | 81 | 7 | 159 |
| 2016 | 64 | 99 | 7 | 170 |
| 2017 | 91 |
80 | 8 | 179 |
| 2018 | 95 |
75 |
7 | 177 |
| 2019 | 92 | 74 | 10 | 176 |
| 2020 | 87 | 90 | 3 | 180 |
| 2021 | 85 | 98 | 9 | 192 |
| 2022 | 80 | 109 | 6 | 195 |
| 2023 | 87 | 107 | 5 | 199 |
Download data file (Excel/CSV; 0.90 kB)
How this indicator was calculated
Note: Comparisons between years should be made with caution as the list of key stocks has changed.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2025) Sustainability survey for fisheries.
Stocks are populations of a species that are found in a particular area, are generally isolated from other stocks of the same species and are self-sustaining. For example, the Atlantic walrus has 6 stocks all representing different areas of the Arctic region.
Harvesting of stocks above the removal reference or other approved rates/levels is avoided through conservation and sustainable use policies. The key decisions in fisheries management are:
- how much of a stock should be harvested
- who should harvest
Harvest rates/levels include all removals by all types of fishing. Harvesting above the removal reference or approved rates/levels can occur when marine animals are accidentally caught as bycatch (that is, caught unintentionally while fishing for another stock or size class) or if fishers exceed their quotas/allowable catch on the stock.
Harvest rates/levels are reported against the removal reference when it is known. A removal reference can be determined when there is sufficient historical data on stock productivity. Approved levels for stocks that do not have removal references are set using other scientific approaches. See the related Status of key fish stocks indicator for information on whether key stocks are in the healthy, cautious or critical zone.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2025) Sustainability survey for fisheries.
By region
Harvest levels by region
Key results
- In 2023, the Atlantic is the only region where stocks were harvested above their removal reference or other approved levels
Harvest of key stocks relative to approved levels by region, Canada, 2023
Data table for the long description
| Harvest level | Pacific (number of stocks) |
Arctic (number of stocks) |
Atlantic (number of stocks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| At or below removal reference | 33 | 14 | 40 |
| At or below other approved levels | 24 | 11 | 72 |
| Above removal references or other approved levels | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Download data file (Excel/CSV; 0.92 kB)
How this indicator was calculated
Note: Stocks were generally assigned to regions based on their respective Fisheries and Oceans Canada managing offices. Stocks managed from the central National office were allocated to Atlantic and Arctic regions as appropriate. Comparisons between years should be made with caution as the list of key stocks has changed.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2025) Sustainability survey for fisheries.
In 2023, 5 stocks were harvested above a removal reference or other approved levels in the Atlantic management region (Table 1). The Arctic and the Pacific management regions had no stocks harvested above a removal reference or other approved level.
The Atlantic region includes the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Atlantic coastline of Canada, and the Bay of Fundy. In the Atlantic region, groundfish, molluscs and large pelagics were the only species groups with no stocks harvested above their removal reference or other approved levels. Groundfish, which includes species such as Atlantic cod, redfish, and halibut, have long been the basis for important commercial fisheries in Atlantic Canada and they play an important ecosystem role as predators. Many groundfish populations, such as Atlantic cod, collapsed by the 1990s due to a combination of overfishing and changing environmental conditions. The total amount of groundfish remains lower than in the past across Atlantic Canada. Careful management of these stocks is necessary to prevent further declines due to fishing and support their recovery.
The Pacific Region consists of the Pacific coastline of western Canada, including the Georgia Strait and open water west of Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island. Similarly to Atlantic groundfish stocks, Pacific groundfish stocks declined significantly between 1950 and 2000. Following management changes for trawl fishers, the stocks have remained relatively stable since 2000, demonstrating how management decisions are able to aid in stock recovery. Salmonid stocks in the Pacific have been facing challenges mainly due to changing environmental conditions in the ocean and freshwater ecosystems and habitat loss. In recent decades, Canada’s Pacific salmon catch has fallen. Despite large reductions in the commercial catch, the number of spawning salmon is still declining for many stocks.
The Arctic Region consists of the Yukon North Slope, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Hudson Bay and James Bay. This region only has stocks from the marine mammals, groundfish, and salmonid species groups.
By species group
Harvest levels by species group
Key results
In 2023:
- All of groundfish, large pelagics, and molluscs were harvested within acceptable limits
- The 5 remaining species groups – marine mammals, small pelagics, salmonids, crustaceans, and “others” (which includes eels and elvers, sea cucumber, and sea urchins) – each had 1 stock that was harvested above the removal reference or other approved levels
Number of key stocks harvested relative to approved levels by species group, Canada, 2023
Data table for the long description
| Species group | Species/stocks included | At or below removal reference (number of stocks) |
At or below other approved levels (number of stocks) |
Above removal references or other approved levels (number of stocks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine mammals | Atlantic walrus, beluga, bowhead, grey seal, harp seal, narwhal | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| Groundfish | Cod, dogfish, flounder, haddock, hake, halibut, lingcod, ocean perch, plaice, pollock, redfish, rockfish, sablefish, skate, thornyhead | 24 | 27 | 0 |
| Small pelagics | Albacore tuna, capelin, eulachon, herring, gaspereau, mackerel, sardine, striped bass | 5 | 18 | 1 |
| Large pelagics | Bluefin tuna, swordfish | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Salmonids | Char, north slope Dolly Varden, salmon, trout, whitefish | 9 | 15 | 1 |
| Crustaceans | Crab, krill, lobster, prawn, shrimp | 22 | 33 | 1 |
| Molluscs | Clam, geoduck, scallop, oyster, whelk | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| Others | Eel and elvers, sea cucumber, sea urchin | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | n/a | 87 | 107 | 5 |
Note: n/a = not applicable.
Download data file (Excel/CSV; 1.36 kB)
How this indicator was calculated
Note: Comparisons between years should be made with caution as the list of key stocks has changed.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2025) Sustainability survey for fisheries.
Canada's key fish stocks have been grouped into 8 categories:
- Marine mammals are mammals that rely on the ocean for part or all of their existence. Marine mammals include seals, whales and narwhals
- Groundfish are usually caught near the ocean bottom. Groundfish include cod, halibut and flounder
- Pelagic fish live in midwater or close to the surface
- Large pelagic fish include bluefin tuna and swordfish
- Small pelagic fish include albacore tuna, herring, mackerel and sardine
- Salmonids are a family of ray-finned fish. Salmonids include salmon, char and trout
- Crustaceans are shelled animals with joints, such as lobster, crab and shrimp
- Molluscs are species we commonly think of as shellfish. Molluscs include clams, oysters and mussels
- Others include eels and elvers, sea cucumber and sea urchin
About the indicator
About the indicator
What the indicator measures
The indicator compares harvest rates with established harvest limits. These limits are based on scientific information, providing a direct measure of whether we are managing the use of these resources within ecosystem limits. It is one measure of fishing pressure on wild fish stocks.
Why this indicator is important
The preservation of the ecological, social and economic value of fish stocks requires limiting harvest. Harvesting above the removal reference or other approved levels, along with other pressures, can reduce the size and productivity of fish stocks, and in the past has even led to their collapse. The harvest rate is the proportion of the stock that is taken from the water, either intentionally or as bycatch. Harvest rates must be adjusted to reflect changing conditions and to protect stocks for the future.
Related initiatives
This indicator supports the measurement of progress towards Goal 14 of the 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy: Conserve and protect Canada's oceans.
The indicator is also used for reporting on Target 5 of Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy: “Exploitation of species/wild species harvesting, use, and trade.” This target is related to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 5: "Ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe and legal, preventing overexploitation, minimizing impacts on non-target species and ecosystems, and reducing the risk of pathogen spill-over, applying the ecosystem approach, while respecting and protecting customary sustainable use by Indigenous peoples and local communities.”
In addition, the indicator contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is linked to the 2030 Agenda's Goal 14, Life Below Water and Target 14.4, "By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics."
Related indicators
The Status of key fish stocks indicator provides information on whether key stocks are in the healthy, cautious or critical zone.
Data sources and methods
Data sources and methods
Data sources
Data from 2015 to 2023 are from the annual Sustainability survey for fisheries (the survey). The survey replaces the Fishery Checklist, which was used from 2011 to 2014. The survey provides a systematic review of national progress towards conservation and sustainable-use objectives.
More information
The survey is conducted each spring/summer and captures data from the previous year. The same survey supports the Status of key fish stocks indicator. The same survey supports the Status of key fish stocks indicator.
The data provide a qualitative snapshot of how a fishery is addressing a range of factors for sustainable management. The data also give an indication of progress in implementing sustainable fisheries policies. Fisheries managers and scientists include results from the most recent stock assessments in their response for the survey year being reviewed.
The survey includes key stocks used by commercial, recreational and Indigenous fisheries. A fish stock is a population of individuals of a species found in a particular area. It is used as a unit for fisheries management purposes.
Key stocks are identified by regional fisheries managers within Fisheries and Oceans Canada and include stocks that are:
- an important economic stock, which have an:
- annual landed value greater than $1 million
- annual landed weight greater than 2 000 tonnes
- an important stock for:
- cultural reasons
- iconic value
- ecosystem reasons
- an international stock, which is one that is:
- straddlingFootnote 1
- migratory
- transboundary
- managed by or subject to an international agreement
- included in an integrated fisheries management plan
- targeted in a fishery
- caught as bycatch and are economically important
- in a depleted state, but were part of a significant commercial fishery and thus are a candidate for or subject to a rebuilding plan under the Precautionary Approach policy
Fish stocks include marine mammals, finfish, shellfish and other marine invertebrates. A year is defined based on fishing seasons and closures for individual stocks. It may not align exactly with the calendar year and may vary between stocks.
Methods
The indicator compares harvest rates with harvest limits. These limits are based on scientific information and provide a direct measure of whether we are managing the use of these resources within ecosystem limits.
The indicator is a simple tabulation of stocks based on whether harvest levels are within removal reference levels, within other harvest limits, or over harvest limits.
More information
The Harvest levels of key fish stocks indicator classifies stocks based on 2 elements:
- Approved harvest limit: this indicates the maximum sustainable harvest level established for a fish stock, and may be a removal reference or another approved level.
- Actual harvest level: this indicates whether the actual harvest was above, at or below the approved harvest limit. Harvest includes all bycatch, whether it is retained or returned to the water.
Removal references and other harvest limits
A removal reference is the maximum acceptable removal rate for the stock. Harvest rates should not exceed the removal reference. All allowable harvest rates are based on scientific assessments, the condition of the stock, and economic and social considerations.
A removal reference is determined when there is sufficient historical data on stock productivity to allow the maximum acceptable removal rate to be estimated analytically. It is one element of a formal precautionary approach that uses a rigorous, risk-based analysis, common across stocks. In this approach, the harvest strategy for a fishery must contain a set of standard components including reference points, harvest decision rules, and other elements. Removal references vary with the stock's abundance and its location in the 3 stock status zones defined in federal policy (that is, Healthy, Cautious and Critical zones; see the Status of key fish stocks indicator for more information on stock status).
For stocks where the removal reference has not been set, actual harvest levels are compared to other approved levels established by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Approved levels are determined on the basis of the best available information and knowledge of the biological, economic and social aspects associated with a given stock.
All limits are determined using a precautionary approach. When scientific information is insufficient, decisions must still be made. The absence of adequate scientific information should not be used as a reason to postpone or fail to take action that prevents serious harm to the resource. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the "precautionary approach to fisheries recognizes that changes in fisheries systems are only slowly reversible, difficult to control, not well understood, and subject to changing environment and human values."
Harvest rates
The harvest rate, also called the removal rate, is the ratio of all human-induced removals to the total exploitable stock size. Each year, managers report whether the harvest rate is above or below the acceptable level.
Regional information
For the purposes of this indicator, Fisheries and Oceans Canada's 7 regions have been grouped into 3: Stocks managed from the Pacific regional office of Fisheries and Oceans Canada are assigned the Pacific region. Stocks managed from the Arctic office are assigned to the Arctic region: this region contains some freshwater stocks. Stocks managed from the central National office were allocated to Atlantic and Arctic regions as appropriate. All remaining regional offices are assigned to the Atlantic region: Gulf, Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec.
Species groups
Species groups for reporting on this indicator are marine mammals, salmonids, groundfish, large pelagics, small pelagics, crustaceans, molluscs, and others. These are the groupings used in the Sustainability survey for fisheries. The same groupings are used in the Status of key fish stocks indicator.
Recent changes
The Sustainability survey for fisheries (the survey), previously called the Fishery Checklist, has been revised over time to improve its usefulness as a management tool. The Fishery Checklist was used from 2011 to 2014 and became the annual Sustainability survey for fisheries in 2015.
In 2011, the checklist and a set of 155 key stocks were finalized for the period 2011 to 2014, allowing comparability between years. Since then, stocks have been added to and removed from the list of key fish stocks due to a variety of reasons, such as fishing restrictions to protect stock health and splitting of stocks for more precise management. This resulted in a total of 199 stocks in 2023.
More information
Between 2015 and 2018, the number of stocks included in the survey increased to 177. Below are the detailed changes in the last 5 years to the list of fish stocks.
In 2019, the list of major stocks was revised to a total of 176:
- 1 intertidal clam stock was removed (-1)
In 2020, the list of key stocks was revised to a total of 180:
- Gulf shrimp was split into 4 stocks (+3)
- Herring was split into 2 units (Fall and Spring spawner) (+1)
- Red fish was previously 2 units and was split into 2 species (+0)
In 2021, the list of key stocks was revised to a total of 192:
- Inshore Lobster was previously 2 units and was split into 11 (+9)
- 1 Yellowtail Flounder stock was added (+1)
- 1 Chinook Salmon stock was added (+1)
- 1 Coho Salmon stock was added (+1)
In 2022, the list of key stocks was revised to a total of 195:
- Herring (4VWX) was split into 4 stocks (+3)
In 2023, the list of key stocks was revised to a total of 199:
- Queen/ snow crab stock was split into 5 stocks (+4)
- Intertidal clams -north coast Haida Gwaii razor was renamed to Pacific razor clam (+0)
The criteria for classifying harvest relative to removal references were tightened in 2015. Survey results are reviewed each year to track progress, gather information about key fish stocks and assist in setting priorities for improving fisheries management.
Caveats and limitations
A harvest level above the removal reference or other approved level in a single year does not mean that a stock is harvested unsustainably. Rather, it leads to a management response. Stocks managed through quotas, for example, are subject to quota reconciliation, meaning that any stocks harvested above an approved level in one year is deducted from the harvest limit established for the following year.
The Sustainability survey for fisheries (the survey) is completed with the best available information. Since the oceans are wide and deep, and fish move between habitats, their populations are difficult to monitor.
The survey summarizes information across a wide variety of species, management regimes, types of fisheries, geographic regions, and socio-economic contexts. Small changes in the set of surveyed stocks occur due to changes in the way stocks are assessed or managed. Results should be interpreted with this in mind.
For most stocks, including all groundfish, quota reconciliation is implemented where there are seasonal harvests above approved levels. In-season transfers allow exchanges to be made between licence holders, such as a harvest above approved levels by one fisher being applied to the unused quota of another. When in-season transfers do not sufficiently cover harvests above approved levels, the harvest is deducted from the harvest limit established for the following year.
The indicator does not account for fished stocks that do not meet the criteria for key stocks. Seaweeds and other aquatic plants are also excluded.
Resources
Resources
References
Boldt, J.L., Joyce, E., Tucker, S., Gauthier, S., and Dosser, H. (Eds.). 2024. State of the physical, biological and selected fishery resources of Pacific Canadian marine ecosystems in 2023 (PDF; 21.5 MB). Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2009) A fishery decision-making framework incorporating the precautionary approach. Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2021) About the Sustainability Survey for Fisheries. Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2022) Canada's Oceans Now: Pacific Ecosystems, 2021. Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2022) Sustainable Fisheries Framework. Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2024) Canada's Oceans Now: Atlantic Ecosystems, 2022. Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2025) Canada’s Oceans Now: Arctic Ecosystems, 2023. Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2025) Fisheries management decisions. Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2025) Sustainability survey for fisheries. Retrieved on March 17, 2025.
Related information
Integrated fisheries management plans
Science Advisory Reports (includes Stock Status Reports)
Page details
- Date modified: