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Marine sectors in Canada summary tables

Activities dependent on the ocean make a substantial contribution to the Canadian economy. Canada's marine industries represent a source of economic growth, job creation, and innovation. Direct activity spans a number of industries and sectors like commercial fishing, manufacturing, construction, and tourism. When accounting for the associated supply-chain and income-related effects, ocean-based activity impacts every major industry in Canada and benefits every province and territory.

The tables presented here provide estimates of the economic contribution of Canada's marine sectors to the national and provincial economies. The analysis covers all major private sector activities with a direct dependence on the oceans, including extractive and non-extractive uses, as well as activities of the public sector and non-government organizations (NGOs) with responsibilities for safety, managing ocean activities, and research. In 2023, significant changes were made to the methodology used to estimate the marine tourism sector's economic contribution, which are detailed in the marine tourism section on the methodology page. The estimates for 2018-2022 were updated accordingly. These results should not be directly compared with past estimates.

Based on a robust measurement framework, these estimates allow inter-industry comparability and establish a set of indicators by which to monitor the economic contribution of marine-related activities. The information they contain also provides estimates for the size and provincial distribution of Canada's ocean-based economic activity across a number of industries.

Marine sectors methodology

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