Lobbying on Fisheries - Ottawa (July 2026 edition)
BC Seafood Alliance, Creative Salmon Co. LTD., CERMAQ CANADA LTD. were unusually active lobbyists last month.
Once a month, we partner up with LobbyIQ to update our readers on recent movements in the federal lobbying landscape in Ottawa. We provide separate coverage for each channel, defined by the most relevant industries, organizations, institutions, and subject matters.
Key Takeaways — Fisheries
- Lobbying activity totalled 16 meetings in June 2026, down from a 12-month average of 18.5.
- The biggest moves were in Fisheries and Aquaculture.
- BC Seafood Alliance, Creative Salmon Co. LTD. were more active than usual.
Section A: The Themes Hidden in June 2026 Data
Intensified Push for Salmon Farming Transition Support
June 2026 sees renewed advocacy for a "bc salmon farming transition," with industry groups such as Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, CERMAQ CANADA LTD., and Creative Salmon Co. LTD. urging clear plans, economic supports, and innovation funding as Canada moves to phase out open net-pen salmon farms by June 2029. The spike in lobbying—particularly in meetings with Finance Canada (FIN) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)—aligns with federal rollouts of stricter licensing, and highlights the demand for certainty among affected operators and communities. This pattern coincides with the federal transition plan's announcement and industry calls for robust adaptation measures.
📎 Canada releases long-awaited transition plan for B.C. salmon farming
B.C. Leaders Call for Federal Investment Amid Aquaculture Transition
Amid regulatory upheaval in fisheries and aquaculture, B.C. government officials have intensified appeals for federal investment to support workers, First Nations, and coastal communities impacted by salmon farming changes. The BC Seafood Alliance, Creative Salmon Co. LTD., and CERMAQ CANADA LTD. ramped up lobbying activity with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Finance Canada (FIN), focusing on securing economic and technological support. These efforts come as Ottawa outlines its transition plan, mirroring increased engagement with federal agencies.
Stricter Salmon Farm Licensing Fuels Industry Concerns
Lobbying in June 2026 coincides with strengthened federal licensing and reporting requirements for B.C. salmon farms, including new sea lice and marine mammal protocols. Representatives from the BC Seafood Alliance and Mowi Canada have engaged officials at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Senate of Canada about the scientific rationale and impacts of these regulations, seeking adjustments to improve operational viability. The timing reflects a direct response to policy shifts outlined by Ottawa.
📎 Protecting wild Pacific salmon: the transition from open net-pen salmon ...
NGOs Lobby for Expansion of Conservation Funding
A wave of lobbying in June 2026 by groups including the Deep Sea Trawlers Association, Pacific Prawn Fishermen's Association, and the BC Seafood Alliance engaging with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) aims to boost federal conservation funds and strategic marine zoning initiatives, renewing demands for programs like the Canada Nature Fund. Environmental groups and industry organizations such as the Underwater Harvesters Association advocate for long-term private-public partnerships and expanded zoning in the Northern Shelf Bioregion, seeking to shape policy for ecological protection and local economic support. This comes amid active government consultations on conservation priorities.
📎 Pacific aquaculture transition - What we heard report phases 1 and 2
Ongoing Aquaculture Consultations Drive Stakeholder Engagement
Throughout 2025 and into 2026, hundreds of industry, Indigenous, and government stakeholders—including the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, CERMAQ CANADA LTD., Creative Salmon Co. LTD., and the BC Seafood Alliance—have participated in federal consultations on the future of Canadian aquaculture with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Finance Canada (FIN). Key topics include the transition to closed containment systems and innovation funding, reflecting lobbying efforts aimed at influencing technical and economic aspects of the sector's transformation. This cross-sector engagement mirrors heightened dialogue over regulatory change.
📎 Ottawa’s “plan to make a plan” for BC’s salmon farmers is almost done
Section B: Lobbying Activity by Industry
This section compares, by NAICS industry, the lobbying activity in Ottawa last month to its historical average.
Lobbying activity across this channel totalled 16 meetings in June 2026, down from a 12-month average of 18. The most active industry was Aquaculture, while Fisheries fell below its recent baseline.
Aquaculture logged 10 meetings, up from an average of 8.
Fisheries had 6 meetings, down from an average of 10.
Section C: Lobbying by Industry for the Past Year
To contextualize, we show each industry's lobbying activity over the past 12 months. The combined view from Section B and C shows you whether recent differences are persistent trends or a break from the norm.
Top Industry Residual Trends for 2026-06
↳ Fisheries displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.
↳ Aquaculture has been trending downward in lobbying over the past year.
Section D: Lobbying Activity by Organization
In this section, we see the organizations with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity.
The organizations with the most notable increases in lobbying this month include BC Seafood Alliance, Creative Salmon Co. LTD., and CERMAQ CANADA LTD..
On the quieter side, fisheries council of canada, and Mowi Canada all pulled back from their usual pace.
Section E: Lobbying of Government Institutions in the Past Month
Every time an organization lobbies, there is a government official representing a government institution at the other side of the table. This section shows the industry-institutions pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity. Below that, we show the corresponding organization-institution pairs.
Industries → Government Institutions
Organizations → Government Institutions
The busiest industry → institution corridors this month:
↳ Aquaculture → Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): 4 meetings (avg 3, +37%).
↳ Fisheries → Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): 3 meetings (avg 5, -39%).
↳ Aquaculture → Finance Canada (FIN): 2 meetings (avg 1, +100%).
The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:
↳ BC Seafood Alliance → Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): 3 meetings (avg 0, +1100%).
↳ CERMAQ CANADA LTD. → Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): 1 meetings (avg 0, +500%).
↳ CERMAQ CANADA LTD. → Privy Council Office (PCO): 1 meetings (avg 0, +500%).
Section F: Industry and Organization Lobbying by Subject in the Past Month
All lobbying activity is tagged with a "subject matter". This section shows the industry-subject pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month, defined by either unusually high or unusually low lobbying activity, and below it the organization-subject pairs with the most unusual lobbying behavior last month.
Industries → Subjects
Organizations → Subjects
The busiest industry → subject corridors this month:
↳ Environment and wildlife organizations → Fisheries: 33 meetings (avg 23, +42%).
↳ Water transportation → Fisheries: 19 meetings (avg 3, +500%).
↳ Mining (metal ore) → Fisheries: 17 meetings (avg 7, +140%).
The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:
↳ Vale Canada Limited → Fisheries: 14 meetings (avg 6, +127%).
↳ St. Lawrence Ship Operators → Fisheries: 6 meetings (avg 0, +1100%).
↳ Canadian Coastal Research Society → Fisheries: 6 meetings (avg 1, +620%).
Section G: Last Month's Most Lobbied Politicians and Civil Servants
This section presents a list of the politicians and civil servants who took the most meetings with key industry players last month.
Most Lobbied Individuals by Sector
Most Lobbied Individuals by Organization
Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by sector) this month were Fisheries → Silke Neve (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)), Fisheries → Nathalie Lopez (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)) and Fisheries → Kathy Graham (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)).
Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Mowi Canada → Baltej Dhillon (Senate of Canada), Pacific Prawn Fishermen's Association → Kathy Graham (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)) and Underwater Harvesters Association → Silke Neve (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)).
