The Governments of British Columbia and Canada Co-chair the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers’ Annual Meeting

Victoria, British Columbia – British Columbia's Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the Honourable Randene Neill, and the federal Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, will co-chair the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) on August 19-20, 2026.

Federal, provincial, and territorial ministers will discuss key issues affecting Canada's fisheries and aquaculture sectors. This includes fish and seafood trade as well as market access, aquatic invasive species response planning, recreational fisheries data and economic value, initiatives to address illegal fisheries-related activities, aquaculture development, and the impacts of climate change.

The co-chairs will conclude the meeting with a press conference and media availability.

Following the press conference, Minister Thompson and Minister Neill will be joined by the Honourable Lana Popham, British Columbia’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, to make an announcement related to the fisheries sector in B.C.

Date:                Thursday, August 20, 2026

Time:               12:45PM PDT

Location*:       Hotel Grand Pacific
                          463 Belleville Street
                          Victoria, BC

All media representatives, including journalists, camera crews, and other media personnel, must register in advance and obtain approval prior to attending the press conference, whether in person or virtually.

Please register through the following link:  https://ca01web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tI9-ytqERCuLXpjT_MIDtA