Atlantic Groundfish Council

What Atlantic Groundfish Council does

Atlantic Groundfish Council (AGC) is a non-profit industry association representing year-round groundfish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. Founded in 1997 (originally as GEAC, the Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council) and operating from offices in Halifax and St. John's with 11-50 staff, the organization is led by President Sylvie Lapointe and Executive Director Dr. Kris Vascotto. AGC's mandate centers on advocacy, sustainability science, and market development for member companies harvesting cod, haddock, redfish, and other groundfish species, and it functions as the principal industry counterpart to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on Northern cod policy.

The Council co-leads the Northern Cod Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) and the Association of Seafood Producers since 2015, and supports the Northern Cod Acoustic Tracking (NCAT) Project — a multi-million-dollar acoustic array of 75 VEMCO VR4 receivers across 16 gates in NAFO divisions 2J, 3K, and 3L, with data collected via solar-powered wave gliders controlled from Halifax. Research is delivered in partnership with Dalhousie University, Memorial University, and the Ocean Tracking Network. AGC works with international retailers and foodservice buyers (Marks & Spencer, Sysco France, High Liner Foods) and a membership dominated by family-owned processors, principally Ocean Choice International (1,400+ employees across 300+ communities, four processing facilities, three offshore factory freezer vessels) and Icewater Seafoods (North America's only plant focused solely on North Atlantic cod, 280 employees, $14M in recent processing investment), plus Indigenous-owned operators such as Ueushuk Fisheries.

AGC generates no direct commercial revenue. Its funding base consists of member dues, a $85,506 Canadian Agricultural Partnership grant (2022), and program-restricted support including over $500,000 from the Atlantic Fisheries Fund for 2024-2025 to refurbish the NCAT array and fund PhD research. The Council's go-to-market centers on stakeholder coordination, government relations with DFO, and facilitation of sustainability certification pathways — most notably shepherding Northern cod into full Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment in April 2026 — to connect Canadian groundfish to premium markets in the UK, France, and North America.

Name

Atlantic Groundfish Council

Legal name

Atlantic Groundfish Council

Website

https://atlanticgroundfishcouncil.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Atlantic Groundfish Council is a non-profit industry association representing year-round groundfish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. The organization leads the Northern Cod FIP, coordinates with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on sustainability science and market access, and supports member companies including Ocean Choice International and Icewater Seafoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fisheries Industry Association

NAICS

Fishing (1141)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFALAMAL

Seafood & Aquaculture Certification Services (MSC/ASC/BAP)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Certification Services (Organic, Non-GMO, etc.)

SECONDARYBPAGAGAE

Marine & Freshwater Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Sustainable fisheries management
• Fishery improvement projects
• Groundfish harvesting advocacy
• Marine sustainability certification
• Industry association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industry Association Services: The Atlantic Groundfish Council is a non-profit industry association representing year-round groundfish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. The organization does not generate direct revenue but facilitates economic benefits for member companies through advocacy, sustainability certifications, and market development activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Atlantic Groundfish Council (AGC) is a non-profit industry association representing year-round groundfish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. It does not sell commercial products; instead it provides advocacy, government relations, sustainability certifications (Fishery Improvement Projects, MSC assessment), research coordination (Northern Cod Acoustic Tracking Project), and market access facilitation for its member harvesters and processors serving UK, France, and North American seafood markets.

Product overview

Atlantic Groundfish Council is a non-profit industry association representing year-round groundfish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. It does not offer commercial products or services. The organization focuses on sustainability advocacy, fishery improvement projects, research collaboration, and representing the interests of groundfish harvesters in policy discussions with government. Key activities include leading Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) for Northern Cod and 3Ps Cod, coordinating with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), supporting scientific research including acoustic tracking projects, and working toward Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification for member fisheries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026SFP is a globally recognized nonprofit operating within seafood supply chains to rebuild depleted fish stocks and reduce environmental impacts. CEO Jim Cannon has worked on fisheries and conservation for over three decades. SFP co-leads the Northern Cod FIP with AGC and Association of Seafood Producers since 2015.
• Ocean Tracking Network (OTN)coreTechnology or Integration · 20 April 2026International research organization providing acoustic tracking infrastructure and data management for the Northern Cod Acoustic Tracking (NCAT) Project. OTN operates the wave glider data collection system and manages acoustic receiver network data.
• Dalhousie UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Academic partner contributing to the Northern Cod Acoustic Tracking Project and FIP research initiatives. Part of the Ocean Frontier Institute collaboration.
• Memorial UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Academic partner contributing research expertise to the Northern Cod FIP, including PhD research projects and acoustic tracking project oversight.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Federal government department responsible for fisheries management and science. Conducts annual stock assessments, participates in FIP steering and technical committees, and manages the Northern Cod Advisory meetings.
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026MSC is entering Northern cod into its full assessment process for sustainability certification in 2026. The MSC was established in 1997 in response to the collapse of the Northern cod fishery - the very stock now entering assessment.
• Marks & SpencercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 April 2026UK-based retailer and FIP stakeholder financially contributing to the Northern Cod FIP since its inception. Part of group of European and North American customers supporting sustainable cod recovery.
• High Liner FoodscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 April 2026Canada/United States-based seafood company and long-term supporter of the Northern Cod FIP. President & CEO Paul Jewer expressed commitment to offering more responsibly harvested Northern cod to customers.
• Sysco FrancecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 April 2026French foodservice distributor and FIP stakeholder. Sustainability Manager Olivier Canonne noted confidence in the stock and relationships with industry.
• Ocean Choice InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Family-owned AGC member company with four processing facilities and three offshore factory freezer vessels. Employs over 1,400 people across 300+ communities. Key harvester of Northern cod in the reopened commercial fishery.
• Icewater SeafoodscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026AGC member operating North America's only plant focused solely on North Atlantic cod. 70,000 square-foot facility in Arnold's Cove with $14M in recent technology investments. Employs 280 people nearly year-round.
• Ueushuk FisheriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Labrador Innu-owned fishing company, owner of Harbour Grace Shrimp Company. Indigenous-owned business participating in the offshore groundfish sector and Northern cod fishery.
• Association of Seafood ProducerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2015Joint leadership of the Northern Cod Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) and 3Ps Cod FIP. ASP is a not-for-profit industry association representing seafood producers in Newfoundland and Labrador, committed to promoting sustainability, economic growth, and responsible practices.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Association of Seafood Producers: Not-for-profit Newfoundland and Labrador industry association that co-leads the Northern Cod FIP and 3Ps Cod FIP with AGC. Directly comparable mandate of representing seafood producers in policy and sustainability forums.
• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership: Global non-profit that co-leads the Northern Cod FIP with AGC. Operates within seafood supply chains to rebuild depleted stocks — same nonprofit FIP-coordinator model applied across multiple fisheries worldwide.
• Ocean Choice International: Family-owned AGC member and vertically integrated seafood company with four processing facilities and three offshore factory freezer vessels, employing 1,400+ people. Closest direct industry counterpart operating the harvesting and processing layer AGC represents.
• Icewater Seafoods: AGC member operating North America's only plant focused solely on North Atlantic cod processing in Arnold's Cove, NL, with $14M in recent technology investments and 225–280 employees. Direct processor peer whose business outcomes AGC's advocacy directly affects.
• Lobster Council of Canada: National Canadian industry association representing another major Atlantic fishery. Closely comparable governance, advocacy, and sustainability-certification mandate, but focused on lobster rather than groundfish.

Broad incumbents

• Marine Stewardship Council: Global sustainability standards body that Northern cod entered full assessment with in 2026. Operates at a much larger scale across all seafood categories and is the certifying body AGC's FIP is feeding into.
• Clearwater Seafoods: Large Canadian seafood harvester and processor with broad shellfish and groundfish exposure. Comparable in operating footprint to AGC's largest members but at meaningfully larger scale across multiple species.
• High Liner Foods: Public North American seafood company and FIP stakeholder financially supporting the Northern Cod FIP. Comparable as a downstream buyer of AGC member product, though operating at much larger scale across multiple species.

Others

• Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization: Regional fisheries management organization that sets catch allocations for the NAFO divisions (2J, 3K, 3L) where AGC's acoustic tracking array is deployed. Indirect regulator and data counterpart rather than a direct competitor.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Canadian federal regulator conducting annual stock assessments and setting TAC for Northern cod. AGC's primary government counterpart — not a competitor but the entity whose decisions most directly determine member outcomes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Atlantic Groundfish Council