ASP Member-Producers process a wide variety of seafood products from the cold, pristine waters around Newfoundland & Labrador. Producers source from sustainable fisheries and work hard to maintain the high-quality expected in premium international markets. The majority of our production value and volume comes from internationally-renowned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fisheries.

Quick Facts

  • ASP Members consist of 25 companies with 50 locations.

  • Members include mostly family-owned, small, medium and large producers, including two producers owned by independent fish harvesters.

  • Production value in 2020 was $1.1 billion.

  • Members produce 96% of snow crab and 91% Coldwater shrimp

  • Members produce 80% of the province’s wild catch production sale value

  • 75% of the total sales value of seafood products in the province

  • ASP members employ over 5000 people, almost exclusively rural Newfoundland and Labrador

  • ASP members buy from over 2700 independent fishers in the inshore fishery in our province

Working Together

ASP is the leading voice for the seafood processing industry in our province but does not work alone. Success comes from collaboration and working together. Together, we can achieve our vision of a prosperous, sustainable seafood industry for the province. ASP is a founding member of the Association of Sustainable Fisheries, an international grouping of MSC-client fisheries working together in fisheries sustainability. Though not a member, we work closely with the Fisheries Council of Canada, the national voice for fisheries in Canada, and acknowledge their leadership role at a national level.

In 2008, ASP certified the first fishery in Canada to the MSC standard, northern shrimp. ASP also partners with the Canadian Association of Prawn Producers who represent more northern interests in ensuring our coldwater shrimp fishery remains MSC certified. ASP works with the Atlantic Groundfish Council to improve fisheries management and understanding around northern cod, in a leading Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP), with the added support of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. ASP is the managing client for Scotian Shelf and Gulf of St. Lawrence MSC shrimp certification, on behalf of fellow clients in the Maritimes and Quebec.

ASP is also a member of the One Ocean, bringing together fisheries and oil and gas representatives to discuss the intersection of these two important industries in our province. We work closely with the NL Employers Council on issues of mutual benefit. We are also members of the Board of Trade in our city.

These are just some examples of our collaboration to help improve our industry and work towards growth and opportunity for future generations.

International Markets

Our members serve as the vital link between the ocean and global markets, exporting products to more than 40 countries around the world. In 2021, the province as a whole exported seafood producers valued at over $1.4 billion dollars, a volume of over 105,000 tonnes.

The United States is the largest export market for Newfoundland and Labrador seafood producers, representing 70% of the total export value, with China as the next largest export market at 13%. Other key markets include the United Kingdom, Denmark and Japan.

Snow crab had an export value of $883 million in 2021, with shrimp at the second-highest export value of $177 million, followed by groundfish at $125 million, lobster at $120 million, and pelagics at $57 million.