The fur industry has had a presence in Newfoundland and Labrador since the early 1900s.
Fox and mink are the mainstays of today’s fur industry. To minimize the impact of Aleutian disease on the commercial mink industry, import regulations exist for the importation of any breeding stock. Further information is available.
Industry Opportunity and Challenges
The fur industry has opportunities in the province. Secondary processing of fur products has created employment in rural areas. Weather conditions in this province are conducive to the raising of furbearers. There are opportunities to diversify species and colors within species. Fur farming can be combined with other rural enterprises as well.
The fur industry also has challenges in this province. The high cost of feed ingredients and rations from mainland sources must continue to be addressed. Fur producers are very vulnerable to wide price fluctuations for their products and to external grading and marketing systems at international auction houses. Global constraints include evolving fashion trends and warm winters; periodic oversupply of pelts on world markets; animal rights movement and the related negative perception.