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 11 meetings in February 2026, down from a 12-month average of 16.7.
• The most notable shift was in Fisheries.
• Creative Salmon Co. LTD., Deep Sea Trawlers Association were more active than usual.

Section A: The Themes Hidden in February 2026 Data

Court Ruling Fuels Aquaculture Lobbying

A major January 2026 court decision upholding the ban on open-net salmon farms in B.C.’s Discovery Islands has fortified the federal aquaculture transition plan. This ruling coincides with heightened advocacy from industry and Indigenous groups in February, as lobbying records show increased efforts by the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and Mowi Canada with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), as well as Creative Salmon Co. LTD. with both Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Prime Minister's Office, to influence plans and secure support for communities affected by the phase-out.

📎 Court decision strengthens Canada’s plan to transition net-pen fish ...

Uncertainty Drives Lobbying Over Salmon Farm Transition

The ongoing lack of clarity and communication around the draft federal salmon aquaculture transition plan has led sector representatives such as Creative Salmon Co. LTD. and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance to intensify lobbying for regulatory certainty with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Industry frustration about stalled investment and community impacts has coincided with several high-profile meetings between aquaculture firms like Mowi Canada and federal officials in February.

📎 Salmon aquaculture transition in British Columbia - ised-isde.canada.ca · Canada salmon farmers 'very discouraged again' by government silence

Indigenous Advocacy Over Food Security and Aquaculture Policy

Amid the rollout of Canada’s Food Security Strategy, Indigenous leaders, joined by Creative Salmon Co. LTD. and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance in meetings with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), have stepped up lobbying for responsible salmon aquaculture as a cornerstone of economic resilience and community well-being. Their February efforts align with documented meetings, including those between Mowi Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), seeking to protect food supply and jobs in coastal communities during the ongoing aquaculture transition.

📎 National Newswatch | Canada's Food Security Strategy Needs a Key…

Scientific Evidence Shapes Federal Fisheries Engagement

Scientific findings on disease risk from open-net pen salmon farming continue to inspire policy change and stakeholder lobbying, as seen in discussions between Creative Salmon Co. LTD. and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Evidence from independent organizations has been central to meetings, including those involving the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and Mowi Canada, about modernizing shellfish management and bolstering conservation funds, as groups urge federal adoption of more robust, science-based frameworks with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

📎 The latest on open-net pen salmon farms in B.C.

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 11 meetings in February 2026, down from a 12-month average of 17. The most active industry was Aquaculture, while Fisheries fell below its recent baseline.

Fisheries had 3 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 2026-02

↳ Aquaculture displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

↳ Fisheries has been on a broadly upward trajectory in lobbying over the past year.

↳ Fisheries displayed high volatility, suggesting irregular or event-driven engagement.

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 Creative Salmon Co. LTD., and Deep Sea Trawlers Association.

On the quieter side, fisheries council of canada, Pacific Prawn Fishermen's Association, and Ueushuk Fisheries Ltd. 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): 7 meetings (avg 2, +190%).

↳ Fisheries → Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): 2 meetings (avg 4, -52%).

↳ Aquaculture → Prime Minister's Office (PMO): 1 meetings (avg 1, +20%).

The busiest organization → institution corridors this month:

↳ Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance → Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): 2 meetings (avg 1, +118%).

↳ Creative Salmon Co. LTD. → Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): 2 meetings (avg 0, +700%).

↳ Assocation des crabiers gaspésiens inc → Transport Canada (TC): 1 meetings (avg 0, +1100%).

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:

↳ Indigenous public administration → Fisheries: 36 meetings (avg 14, +154%).

↳ Environment and wildlife organizations → Fisheries: 25 meetings (avg 14, +80%).

↳ Indigenous advocacy organizations → Fisheries: 19 meetings (avg 5, +315%).

The busiest organization → subject corridors this month:

↳ Semiahmoo First Nation → Fisheries: 18 meetings (avg 2, +620%).

↳ Indigenous Leadership Initiative → Fisheries: 16 meetings (avg 4, +336%).

↳ British Columbia Assembly of First Nations → Fisheries: 11 meetings (avg 1, +1000%).

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 Aquaculture → Neil Macisaac (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)), Aquaculture → Elizabeth Arsenault (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)) and Fisheries → Jackson Coles (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)).

Among the individuals with the most notable meeting activity (by organization) this month were Creative Salmon Co. LTD. → Elizabeth Arsenault (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)), Deep Sea Trawlers Association → Jackson Coles (Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)) and Deep Sea Trawlers Association → Jill McKnight (House of Commons).