Shellfish processing jobs in Canada: seasonal work in crab, lobster and shrimp plants

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What happens in a shellfish plant?

Workers receive the catch, cook crab or lobster, separate legs and sections, extract the meat, grade, freeze and pack it. Other roles include sanitation, handling ice and totes, and loading refrigerated trucks bound for markets in the United States and Asia.

The work is done standing, in cold and wet conditions, with fast and repetitive movements. Shifts get long when boats land big catches, sometimes six or seven days a week, and activity stops abruptly when the fishing season closes.

Where are the plants?

The main plants are in New Brunswick's Acadian Peninsula and south-east, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Gaspésie, Quebec's North Shore, the Magdalen Islands and Newfoundland and Labrador, often in small coastal villages far from any large city.

Fishing season calendar

Gulf of St. Lawrence snow crab is fished from April to June or July. Lobster has a spring season from May to July in the Gulf, an autumn season in some areas and a winter season in south-western Nova Scotia, which spreads plant work across the year.

A workforce that is hard to find

Ageing coastal communities push plants to recruit far afield, including temporary foreign workers from Mexico, the Philippines and Africa. Fish and seafood plant workers are among the prioritised occupations of Employment and Social Development Canada for LMIA processing.

Who can work in Canadian shellfish plants?

Canadians and permanent residents can work freely, and many combine the season with Employment Insurance benefits in the off-season. Foreign nationals need a work permit; Europeans have no automatic access, even when they speak French fluently.

The open permit from International Experience Canada lets French citizens aged 18 to 35 work up to 24 months in any plant, and Irish or British participants under their own country conditions. It is the most flexible option for young people drawn to Acadian or Gaspé plants.

LMIAs and the low-wage stream

Most plants recruit abroad through the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Since September 26, 2024, low-wage LMIAs are not processed in census metropolitan areas with unemployment of 6% or more, but coastal plants are rarely located in such areas.

The 20% cap for food manufacturing

Seafood processing belongs to food manufacturing (NAICS 311), where the cap on low-wage foreign workers is 20% per work location instead of the general 10%. The seasonal exemption covers positions lasting no more than 270 calendar days.

Employer obligations

Employers using this stream must pay round-trip transportation from the worker's country of residence and ensure suitable, affordable housing costing less than 30% of gross income. Those costs cannot be recovered from the worker's wages or through other charges.

Wages and working conditions

Pay is hourly, often with productivity or seniority bonuses. Minimum wages in 2026 are CAD 16.60 in Quebec since May, CAD 15.90 in New Brunswick and CAD 17.00 in Prince Edward Island since April, and CAD 17.00 in Nova Scotia since October.

Steps to land a plant job

1. Choose region and species: crab in spring, lobster depending on the area.
2. Obtain an IEC permit or be selected by a plant filing an LMIA.
3. Identify plants in the Acadian Peninsula, Gaspésie or Prince Edward Island.
4. Apply from January, before the crab season opens.
5. Get housing, travel and guaranteed hours confirmed in writing.
6. Pack warm, waterproof clothing for the plant floor.
7. Obtain a Social Insurance Number on arrival.

Mistakes and abuses to avoid

• Paying an intermediary for a place in a plant.
• Letting the employer keep your passport or work permit.
• Forgetting that the season can end as soon as fishing closes.
• Signing a lease without knowing the real cost of employer housing.
• Ignoring hand and wrist pain caused by shelling.

A worker on an employer-specific permit facing abuse can apply to IRCC for an open work permit for vulnerable workers. Provincial employment standards offices accept complaints about unpaid hours even after the season has ended and the worker has left.

Allergies and occupational health

Handling crab and lobster can trigger respiratory and skin allergies, a recognised occupational hazard. Plants must ventilate and supply gloves and masks, and workers should report any persistent cough or rash promptly to the supervisor and a doctor.

Shellfish plant jobs: frequently asked questions

The answers below apply to the 2026 season; fishing quotas set each year by Fisheries and Oceans Canada directly shape the length of plant seasons and therefore the number of hours offered to seasonal workers.

How long does a crab season last?

Usually eight to twelve weeks in the Gulf, from April to July, depending on quota and weather. Plants that also process lobster or shrimp offer longer contracts of four to six months, sometimes running well into the autumn.

Is French enough?

Yes in the Acadian Peninsula, Gaspésie, the North Shore and the Magdalen Islands, where French is the working language. In Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, plants operate mainly in English, though some supervisors are bilingual.

Is housing provided?

Often, because coastal villages have few rentals. For workers hired through a low-wage LMIA, the employer must ensure suitable and affordable housing; for working holiday permit holders, it depends on the plant and should be agreed before travelling.

How much can you earn in a crab season?

With 50 to 60 hour weeks at the peak, a worker on New Brunswick's minimum wage earns over CAD 800 gross a week including overtime. Total earnings depend mostly on the real length of the season and the size of the quota.