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4w ago

China Tariffs Squeeze BC Spot Prawn Exports as Season Concludes

Supported by robust local demand, prices have held steady, prompting exporters to shift focus to Japan to offset tariff-driven losses.

Rob MacDonald, a fisherman with Salty Stew's Seafood, weighs spot prawns for a customer at the False Creek Fishermen's Wharf in Vancouver on Thursday.
Image
Stewart McDonald, Owner of Salty Stew's Seafood, holds a basket of spot prawns on his boat at False Creek Harbour Authority, Fishermen's Wharf in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Overview

  • BC’s spot prawn season, which kicked off in mid-May, concluded in early June after landing roughly 1,500 to 2,000 tonnes.
  • China’s March 20 imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian seafood has sharply reduced prawn exports to its largest buyer.
  • Fishermen and exporters are redirecting shipments back to Japan, the province’s previous leading market for spot prawns.
  • Agriculture Minister Lana Popham has pledged government aid in opening alternative markets to support the seafood sector.
  • Domestic demand surged throughout the season, with local eateries such as Tojo’s consuming up to 25 pounds of fresh prawns daily.