Fisheries Council of Canada

What Fisheries Council of Canada does

The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1915 (originally as the Canadian Fisheries Association, reorganized under its current name in 1945) and headquartered at 610 – 170 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario. It represents 52 member organizations across Canada's three coasts (Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic), spanning companies engaged in the harvesting, processing, importing, and marketing of wild-capture fish and seafood, including enterprise processors such as High Liner Foods, Clearwater Seafoods, Canadian Fishing Company (Canfisco), Ocean Choice International, Connors Bros./Clover Leaf Seafoods, and Icewater Seafoods, as well as Indigenous birthright organizations (Makivvik, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, NunatuKavut Community Council) and provincial/sectoral associations.

FCC's core products and service offerings include regulatory advocacy with federal departments (Fisheries & Oceans Canada, CFIA, Global Affairs Canada), the annual FCC Conference held in Ottawa (175-200+ delegates, October each year), the CANfish annual magazine and member directory, Issue Briefs on sustainability/labour/trade/science, the Future Leaders Canada professional development program delivered with the National Fisheries Institute (US), and the FCC Strategic Plan (currently 2025-2027). No proprietary technology platform is operated; the organization runs on a content website, social media, email newsletters, and an annual in-person event.

The business model is membership-driven, with revenue generated from tiered membership dues (Direct Corporate, Provincial, Corporate Import/Export, Special Sector, Associate categories), annual conference registration fees ($349-$1,299 CAD per attendee depending on member type and timing), event sponsorships (Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze), and tuition from the Future Leaders Canada program ($4,400-$6,400 CAD per participant). Go-to-market is direct relationship-based recruitment of seafood industry companies, supplemented by the annual conference as the principal member engagement and recruitment channel. The team is intentionally small at 3-5 staff, currently led by President Jason McLinton (appointed March 24, 2025).

Name

Fisheries Council of Canada

Legal name

Fisheries Council of Canada

Website

https://fisheriescouncil.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Fisheries Council of Canada is an Ottawa-based non-profit trade association, founded in 1915, representing 52 member organizations across Canada's wild-capture fish and seafood industry. It delivers federal regulatory advocacy, an annual Ottawa conference, CANfish magazine, and the Future Leaders Canada professional development program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association / Advocacy Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Seafood industry advocacy
• Fisheries trade association
• Marine resource policy
• Seafood market access
• Wild-capture fisheries

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: FCC generates revenue through membership fees from companies and associations engaged in commercial fish and seafood business. Membership categories include Direct Corporate Members, Provincial Members, Corporate Import/Export Members, Special Sector Members, and Associate Members.
2. Annual Conference Revenue: FCC generates revenue through annual conference registration fees. 2025 rates: Member $799-$899, Non-Member $1,199-$1,299, Government $349-$399, Special Sector Association Member $699-$799, Academia & NGOs $349-$399. Plus sponsorship revenue from the event.
3. Sponsorships: Companies sponsor the annual conference at various levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) providing revenue for the organization.
4. Future Leaders Canada Program: Tuition fees for professional development program: FCC Members $4,400 CAD/$3,214 USD, Non-Members $6,400 CAD/$4,675 USD

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Fisheries Council of Canada is a non-profit trade association that provides industry advocacy, representation, and policy engagement for Canadian companies engaged in wild-capture fish harvesting, processing, importing, and marketing. FCC delivers value through government relations with federal departments and parliamentary committees, member services, the annual CANfish Magazine publication, the Annual Conference, the Future Leaders Canada professional development program, and issue briefs on sustainability, trade, food safety, and marine conservation.

Product overview

The Fisheries Council of Canada is a non-profit trade association offering a portfolio of advocacy services, publications, and professional development programs for Canada's wild-capture fish and seafood industry. The organization does not operate a traditional product platform but provides value through CANfish Magazine (an annual industry publication and member directory), the FCC Annual Conference (Canada's premier seafood industry event), Issue Briefs covering key industry topics (Sustainability, Labour, Trade, Science, etc.), the Future Leaders Canada professional development program, and strategic planning documents. These offerings work together to support the industry's advocacy, market access, and sustainability goals across Canada's three coasts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CANfish Magazine An annual industry publication and member/product directory featuring hot topic articles and a robust member and product directory. Distributed to members and marketed internationally to potential offshore buyers of Canadian seafood.
• FCC Annual Conference Canada's premier fish and seafood event bringing together 175-200+ delegates from across the Canadian fisheries and seafood sector, including harvesters, processors, industry leaders, government officials, and policy influencers. Features networking, educational sessions, and industry recognition.
• Future Leaders Canada Program Industry-specific professional development program conducted in partnership with the National Fisheries Institute (US) for Canadian seafood industry professionals. Three-session program with facility tours, government relations training, and industry networking. Membership tuition: $4,400 CAD; Non-member tuition: $6,400 CAD.
• FCC Strategic Plan (2025-2027) Three-year strategic document guiding FCC's focus in advocacy, industry reputation, and strategic priorities including regulatory renewal, stability of access and allocations, market access, and sustainability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94-95% of Canadian fisheries harvested at sustainable levels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Coalition of Fisheries Association (ICFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCC is a proud member of ICFA, connecting Canadian fisheries interests with international counterparts. ICFA coordinates global fisheries advocacy and policy positions.
• National Fisheries Institute (NFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCC partners with NFI on the Future Leaders Canada program - a professional development program for Canadian seafood industry professionals. NFI administers tuition payments and coordinates with US industry activities.
• Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCC and CAIA jointly developed Canada's Blue Economy Strategy 2040 and collaborate on advocacy for seafood industry growth. They co-launch initiatives like the 'What Does a Blue Economy Mean to You?' video series and 'Take the Pledge' campaign.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Seafish Industry Authority: UK non-departmental public body supporting the British seafood industry across catch, aquaculture and processing. Comparable to FCC in scope as a national seafood industry advocate delivering research, training, and market insight.
• National Fisheries Institute: US-based seafood trade association representing producers, processors, distributors and retailers. Functional counterpart to FCC in the US and strategic partner on the Future Leaders Canada program, but operating in a different national market.
• Norwegian Seafood Council: Norway's seafood marketing and industry promotion council. Comparable to FCC in providing national-level seafood industry representation, market access support, and sustainability positioning — but for Norway's seafood exporters.
• Seafood New Zealand: Peak industry body representing New Zealand seafood harvesters, farmers and processors. Comparable to FCC in delivering national-level seafood industry advocacy, market access, and sustainability positioning, but for New Zealand.
• Seafood Industry Australia: Australian peak seafood industry body representing wild-capture, aquaculture and supply-chain participants. Comparable to FCC as a unified national advocacy voice, but operating in the Australian market.
• Pacific Seafood Processors Association: US West Coast trade association for seafood processors. Comparable to FCC in providing processor-focused industry advocacy, but operating regionally in the US Pacific Northwest rather than nationally in Canada.
• Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute: Alaska state agency marketing Alaska seafood globally and supporting industry advocacy. Comparable to FCC in providing market access, sustainability promotion, and industry representation for a major wild-capture fishing region in the United States.
• AIPCE-CEP (European Fish Processors Association): EU-level seafood processors trade association based in Brussels. Comparable to FCC in providing regulatory advocacy and market access support, but focused on European fish and seafood processors.

Broad incumbents

• International Coalition of Fisheries Association: International umbrella body of national fisheries associations of which FCC is a member. Coordinates cross-border fisheries advocacy and policy positions, sitting above FCC in the industry's global representation hierarchy.

Direct peers

• Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance: National trade alliance representing Canada's aquaculture producers. Closest direct peer to FCC: jointly developed Canada's Blue Economy Strategy 2040 and collaborates on Canadian seafood advocacy, differing only by sub-sector focus (farmed vs. wild-capture).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fisheriesca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Fisheries Council of Canada