Canadian Fishing
Company

For 105 years, the Canadian Fishing Company (Canfisco) has harvested, processed, and marketed wild, sustainable seafood from the Pacific waters of British Columbia and Alaska, supplying its premium quality products to customers worldwide.

Introduction

From its headquarters in the Vancouver harbour, Canfisco ensures the highest quality seafood products by managing its catch from the nets of its fishing vessels through modern processing facilities to premium quality seafood products for its customers. Canfisco owns and operates the largest fleet of fishing vessels in British Columbia and procures fish from hundreds of fishermen throughout the province. Alaska General Seafoods (AGS), Canfisco’s principal US affiliate, is a major company in Alaska’s wild salmon and herring fisheries, operating four processing plants, one in Ketchikan, Southeast Alaska and three in Naknek, Southwest Alaska.

At the peak of this past summer's fishing season in British Columbia and Alaska, there were more than 3,000 people involved in Canfisco and AGS’ fishing and shoreside operations. Canfisco’s fleet delivered prime quality wild salmon, herring, black cod, hake, halibut, groundfish and sardines while AGS’ fleet participated in the Alaskan herring and salmon fisheries. AGS is a major salmon processor which continues to expand its value- added operations for the fresh, frozen and canned salmon markets.

In 2010, AGS expanded to two additional processing facilities in Naknek, Alaska to increase its processing capacity and expand in the frozen sockeye markets. In late 2010, Canfisco acquired Leader Creek Fisheries, Alaska’s largest producer of wild sockeye salmon fillets. Leader Creek’s highly efficient processing plant and productive fleet ensure top quality salmon production in the Bristol Bay fishery. In British Columbia, Canfisco maintains its position as the largest vertically integrated producer of wild salmon and herring roe in Canada and, in 2010, enjoyed a very strong salmon season, with the largest Fraser River sockeye salmon run since 1913.

Partners

Canfisco continued its strategic alliance with Ocean Fisheries Limited of Vancouver, under which there have been mutual gains for both companies through co-operative efforts in the commercial BC fishing industry.

Delta Pacific Seafoods (DPS), Canfisco’s affiliate located in Delta, BC, is the largest fresh, frozen and value-added seafood processing facility in BC. In 2010, DPS continued to expand its smoked salmon and value-added operations as well as producing a significant volume of fresh and frozen sockeye from the record Fraser River run.

Canfisco sells its seafood products into 25 countries worldwide. In the Canadian domestic market, Canfisco markets its canned salmon under the Gold Seal brand and various private labels. Gold Seal also supplies a complementary line of canned tuna, crab, mussels, clams, smoked oysters, wild sockeye oil, and flavoured tuna snack products.

In 2010, Gold Seal added sardines, shrimp and several new tuna products to its canned line. Renowned for its premium taste and quality, Gold Seal is a major brand of canned salmon in Canada and its national market share continues to grow.