Oceans Update - September 2026

While anglers everywhere and some commercial fishermen rejoice in amazing abundances of salmon, Fraser sockeye look to be returning at less than half of expectations. This isn’t totally unexpected:  this cycle has been in steep decline and is the only one of the 4 cycles that didn’t return more than the brood year in its last return, in 2022. Nobody’s sure what is the cause of this decline, as ocean conditions were considered ‘moderate’ until June, when an El Nino was officially declared. That brought warmer water and scarcer food sources. 

About the only place sockeye did really well was in Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island: an area that’s never had any salmon farms. There, even the weakest of the managed stocks exceeded spawning requirements and a commercial fishery was opened. 

Meantime, on the east coast of Vancouver Island and many mainland inlets, coho, Chinook and pink salmon were more abundant than many sport fishers today have ever seen. 

One fishery stood out for us: pink salmon returned to Phillips Arm in the Discovery Islands region at astounding numbers. The river quickly filled; DFO opened both seine and gillnet fisheries to try to protect the redds already established. If more fish return than there is room for in the spawning grounds, redds can be destroyed physically or deprived of oxygen by the sheer biomass in the river.
  

Pink salmon in Phillips Arm were severely depressed until 2024: this year’s fishery was the first to open in over 40 years. The fish were small—smaller, apparently, than at least one seiner expected. In the linked video, you’ll see vast numbers of fish gilled in a seine net that led many observers to declare the video a fake—no fisherman would deliberately gill and waste so many fish, which would be crushed on the drum as the net was taken in. (DFO investigated and prescribed mesh size for seiners to avoid this happening again.) Still, it’s a stunning testament to the bounty available this year. 

More than simply bountiful, this fishery was also responsible: as a ‘terminal’ fishery. Conducted within Phillips Arm near the river the fish were headed for, the danger of bycatch was very low compared with ‘mixed-stock’ fisheries that occur in open waters. Upwards of 20 boats participated and prices were considered good. The fishery didn’t open until successful spawning was confirmed. 

A salmon farm operated in Phillips Arm from 1987 until it was closed by Kwiakah First Nation in early 2021. This is a real success story: they took over the tenure and infrastructure, repurposing it as a science centre to support researchers in partnership with academic institutions. They’re studying kelp and eelgrass regeneration and plan to restore historic abundances to further assist in salmon recovery. Just getting rid of the Atlantic salmon and attendant sea lice and disease may have been enough to cause this amazing rebound—pink salmon are particularly vulnerable to sea lice as they enter the ocean soon after emerging from the redd, before protective scales have formed. 

The Phillips Arm fishery this year stands as an indication of what could be, if Canada follows through on removing salmon farms and stops the misguided cuts to salmon spawning surveillance. Because in-river spawning was confirmed, DFO had the right information to be able to open the fishery. Sadly, they’re currently cutting back dramatically on what was already minimal data collection, reducing the contracts for the men and women who have paddled and walked the rivers and streams to produce the data needed to manage fisheries responsibly. 

Living Oceans is working with colleagues to press DFO to continue to collect the data that is so vital to fisheries management, particularly in light of climate change impacts. 

View the full video of the seine catch here. Frank Voelker took the video.

In August 2026, SeaChoice submitted feedback to the Government of Canada as part of two important public consultations aimed at strengthening Canada’s response to forced labour and labour exploitation in global supply chains. These consultations focused on the regulatory approach under Bill C-35, An Act respecting the prohibition of the importation of goods produced by forced labour, as well as proposed due diligence and civil liability measures for Canadian businesses operating in global supply chains. 

SeaChoice’s submissions emphasize that Canada has an opportunity to build one of the world’s strongest frameworks to prevent goods produced with forced labour from entering the Canadian market. Our recommendations call for a risk-based, evidence-driven approach that includes stronger seafood traceability, improved import controls, meaningful information sharing between government departments, and better alignment with international partners. 

SeaChoice also provided recommendations on Canada’s proposed human rights due diligence and civil liability measures, emphasizing the need for mandatory, comprehensive due diligence requirements that cover companies’ full supply chains and require businesses to identify, prevent, mitigate and address risks of forced labour and other human rights abuses. We called for a framework that goes beyond voluntary commitments and includes meaningful accountability when companies fail to meet their responsibilities. 

Our submissions highlight the need for Canada to protect workers better, strengthen supply chain accountability, and ensure Canadian consumers are not unknowingly supporting forced labour. 

Read SeaChoice’s submissions 

Response to the consultation on Bill C-35: Regulatory approach under An Act respecting the prohibition of the importation of goods produced by forced labour. 

Response to the consultation on due diligence and civil liability measures: Proposed measures to fight labour exploitation in global supply chains. 

The Roberts Bank Terminal expansion project was originally planned to increase container traffic by 50%. Now, it’s also meant to house the deepwater oil port demanded by Premier Smith in her deal with Ottawa. It lies in the mouth of the Fraser River—one of the most biologically productive places on earth. 

This article is roughly a 3-minute read. We hope you’ll enjoy it; but if you don’t feel you have the time, skip to take action for Canadian democracy and Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Mark Carney is asking Canadians to trust him.  A lot. It’s tempting to do so: it’s been a while since we’ve had a statesman at the helm and he’s clearly that. He also understands economics, climate risk and the times we’re living in. When he says he’s going to ‘build Canada strong’ and reduce our dependence on the great orange dumpster fire to the south, it sounds reasonable and compelling. But how far are we collectively prepared to go to build Canada strong…and fast? 

When the Prime Minister and Alberta Premier announced a new pipeline deal, it was tempting to say, ‘well, it’s mostly following the existing line so it’s mostly messing with territory that TMX already carved up.’ But there’s a different terminus for this new one and therein lies the rub: the only place to locate the deepwater port that Alberta insists on is in the Fraser River estuary, at Roberts Bank. That estuary is critical to Fraser salmon and in turn, the Southern Resident Killer Whales. That’s not to mention millions of sea- and shore-birds and countless other wildlife that will fare poorly after oiling. 

And spill or no spill, oil ports and the tankers that visit them create chronic oil pollution. 

Balancing such important objectives as ‘building Canada strong’ and protecting threatened and endangered species is supposed to be the job of assessment authorities like the Impact Assessment Agency. Open public hearings with full public participation and accountable decision-making are vital elements of this balancing act. Recent legislation and policy announcements are eroding trust that balance is still on the government’s mind. 

It’s not just environmental protection that is being asked to take a back seat. It’s democracy itself. 

The government has legislated a ‘fast lane, one-window’ approach to approvals. If Cabinet feels a project is of national interest, accountable decision-making is the first victim: the Building Canada Act actually directs the conclusions of every Minister or civil servant involved in approvals: 

• 6(1) Every determination and finding that has to be made and every opinion that has to be formed in order for an authorization to be granted in respect of a national interest project is deemed to be made or formed, as the case may be, in favour of permitting the project to be carried out in whole or in part. 

A conflict with the Species at Risk Act becomes apparent: it says that no project can be approved if it would jeopardize the recovery of a listed species. We’re left with the Orwellian proposition that the Minister of Fisheries must decide that an oil port will not jeopardize the recovery of endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales, even though the port’s construction and operations will without question exacerbate the main risks to those whales: underwater noise, ship strikes, pollution and access to salmon. 

In legislation expected to be introduced when Parliament returns in late September, the government has signaled its intention to resolve conflicts of this sort by amending important legislation like the Species at Risk Act.  In a discussion paper circulated over the summer, reference was made to legislation to remove or suspend the operation of provisions like SARA’s jeopardy clause. 

Stop and think about all of that: instead of Canada being governed exclusively by laws passed in Parliament, we’re now apparently moving to govern selected projects through executive orders coming from Cabinet or the Prime Minister’s Office. And look where government by executive order has gotten our nearest neighbour. 

We don’t have much time to derail the upcoming legislation. It could be among the first bills the government introduces. Please take a moment right now to write your MP and the PM to remind them that you believe Southern Resident Killer Whales (and all of our threatened wildlife) are worth more than Premier Smith’s pipeline. Click here to send a message!

The ‘Save the Skate’ shareholder campaign, the first to challenge major retailers for selling unsustainable farmed salmon, is ramping up for its third year with a new ‘vote no’ tactic.  

Supermarket giant Woolworths is the focus of a shareholder campaign, coordinated by ethical share trading platform SIX, calling on investors to vote against the re-election of Chair Scott Perkins.  

The block of shareholders comprises a range of diverse investors, including Tasmanian residents who call for accountability and due diligence from the supermarket giant when it comes to the extinction crisis facing their unique wildlife. 

The members’ statement was coordinated by SIX and supported by 230 shareholders. It was submitted to Woolworths last week, to be distributed to all shareholders ahead of the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 29 October 2026.  

The members’ statement outlines that under Perkins’ leadership the company has: 

• Ignored shareholder voice on material concerns expressed through record high support for resolutions 

• Shown poor judgement by initiating communications with Woolworths’ largest competitor, Coles 

• Overseen a period where the reputation of Woolworths as a corporation has fallen when research suggests nearly one-third of all shareholder value is attributed to reputation.  

Woolworths, as well as Coles, source salmon from Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s west coast which is the only home of the endangered Maugean Skate. One-third of the harbour forms the World Heritage Area and the ancient skate is a species of recognised World Heritage value. Scientific advice indicates that ocean-based salmon farming is the biggest threat to the creature’s survival.  

The campaign follows two years of significant international shareholder pressure calling on the company to end its association with the potential extinction of this 66-million-year-old endangered species. 

In 2024, a huge one-third of shareholders rallied against the board’s recommendation and voted in support of resolutions put forward by the Save the Skate coalition. This support included many of the world’s largest pension funds, representing millions of members, and sent a strong message to the board about investor sentiment. This globally high vote for nature then increased to 34% the next year, demonstrating continued shareholder concern. 

In Australia, shareholders have few tools available to them to express opinions to companies. When shareholders have delivered consecutive world record votes against the board, and that shareholder opinion continues to be ignored, they have few options available to them other than to target director re-elections. 

The campaign is a collaboration between SIX and several ethical funds, trusts, and civil society groups, including Living Oceans. Over the last two years, numerous Canadian pension fund plans have supported the campaign representing millions of members! 

When Canadians buy seafood, we should be able to know where it came from, how it was caught, and whether it entered our market legally and responsibly. SeaChoice’s new report, Canada’s Seafood at Risk, compares Canada’s seafood import controls with those of the European Union, the United States and Japan. The findings are clear: Canada is falling behind. 

Seafood supply chains can span multiple vessels, countries, ports and processing facilities before a product reaches a Canadian consumer. Without the right information at each step, it is difficult for authorities to identify seafood that may have been illegally caught or associated with human rights abuses. 

The report compares countries against 17 key data elements needed to trace seafood from harvest to market. Canada currently requires just 3 of these 17 elements (only 12%). By comparison, the European Union requires 94%, while the United States and Japan each require approximately 71%. 

Canada does not need to start from scratch. Through its participation in regional fisheries management organizations, Canada already collects and uses much of the information needed to track certain seafood products. Other major seafood markets have taken steps to strengthen traceability and transparency. Canada can learn from these systems and develop an approach that is both effective and efficient, and that aligns with our international trading partners. 

SeaChoice recommends that Canada: 

• Develop a new import control scheme that requires reporting of key data and facilitates full chain traceability of seafood products entering Canada, in line with those of trade partners. 

• Change seafood labelling regulations to include the scientific name, the location of catch or the location of the aquaculture operation, the production method (farmed or wild) and the gear type or farming method. 

• Continue funding international bilateral fisheries monitoring missions and improve information sharing with countries across the seafood supply chain to strengthen compliance and oversight. 

• Establish domestic electronic monitoring standards, expand on-vessel fisheries observation levels, and invest in modern data processing tools in order to improve domestic fisheries management and science and meet Canada’s international commitments. 

Have you captured a moment that made you stop and look twice? Now’s your chance to share it! 

The 2026 Ocean Exposures Photo Contest is open, and we’re inviting photographers across Canada to submit their best ocean-inspired images for a chance to win fantastic prizes from our generous sponsors. 

For more than 20 years, Living Oceans Society’s Ocean Exposures contest has celebrated the beauty and diversity of our oceans while helping inspire greater appreciation for—and action to protect—healthy marine ecosystems. 

From coastal wildlife and underwater worlds to life and work on the ocean, we want to see the places, creatures and moments that make our oceans worth protecting.  

Ready to enter? 

• Deadline: September 30, 2026 

• Amazing prizes to be won 

• Open to Canadian residents 

Get inspired: Check out last year’s winning photographs. 

Learn more and enter: Ocean Exposures Photo Contest 2026 

And remember: please use photography ethics while you're out capturing your images. Give wildlife space, avoid disturbing animals or habitats, and leave no trace. 

Entries so far have been stunning—from underwater wonders to incredible coastal wildlife. Will your photograph be next? 

Photo credit: Carmen Pavlov 

Follow Living Oceans Society on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for contest updates and inspiration. 

Growing up in Vancouver, the ocean has always felt like part of my everyday life. It is in the views I pass on my way to school, the beaches where people gather during the summer, and the many communities built along the coast. However, the more I learned about the challenges facing our oceans, the more I realized that being surrounded by something beautiful is not the same as protecting it. 

My name is Eugenia Hajdini, and I am a high school student in Vancouver. I was born in Italy and moved to Canada when I was eight years old. Since then, Vancouver has become my home, and living in a coastal city has helped shape the way I think about the relationship between people and the environment. 

I have always been interested in creativity, leadership, and finding ways to turn ideas into something meaningful. Over time, I began thinking more deeply about how our cities and communities interact with nature, particularly the ocean. I wanted to do more than simply care about environmental issues; I wanted to find a practical way to contribute. 

That desire led me to create Waves of Change, a youth-led environmental initiative focused on shoreline cleanups, educational workshops, and opportunities for young people to become involved in their communities. My goal was to make environmental action feel more approachable. Climate and conservation issues can often seem enormous, especially to young people who may not know where to begin. I wanted to show that taking action does not always have to start with a huge project. It can begin with learning about a local issue, joining a cleanup, starting a conversation, or encouraging one other person to care. 

Through this work, I also began to understand the importance of communication. Environmental information can be complicated, and people are much more likely to engage with it when it is presented clearly and in a way that connects to their own lives. Social media, when used thoughtfully, can help organizations reach people who might never discover their work through more traditional channels. It can turn awareness into curiosity and, hopefully, curiosity into action. 

This is one of the reasons I was so excited to become a Youth Ambassador with Living Oceans. I admired the organization’s dedication to protecting ocean ecosystems while recognizing the close connection between healthy oceans and healthy communities. I was also drawn to the range of its work, from addressing marine debris and protecting wild salmon to educating the public about the many pressures affecting our coast. 

In my role, I hope to help make Living Oceans’ campaigns and opportunities accessible to more youth. I will be supporting social media and engagement by creating content, promoting campaigns and events, and finding creative ways to communicate important ocean issues. I am particularly excited to help young people see themselves as participants in ocean conservation rather than simply as observers. 

Young people already care deeply about the future of the environment, but caring and knowing how to help are not always the same thing. Sometimes, the first step is simply being invited into the conversation. I hope to help create that invitation by sharing information in a way that is understandable, relevant, and encouraging. 

I am also looking forward to learning from the Living Oceans team. Although I have begun building my own experience through environmental projects and community involvement, I know that there is still so much for me to understand about conservation, advocacy, and the work required to create lasting change. To me, youth leadership is not about pretending to have every answer. It is about being willing to learn, take responsibility, and contribute wherever you can. 

Throughout my time as a Youth Ambassador, I hope to encourage more young people to recognize the influence they already have. You do not need to be an expert, have a large platform, or wait until you are older to make a difference. Meaningful change is built through many people choosing to care and then finding a way to act. 

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Living Oceans and contribute to its mission. I look forward to sharing its work, connecting with the community, and helping more youth discover that protecting our oceans is something in which all of us can take part. 

The Ocean Film Festival Canada is back for its fourth year, bringing inspiring stories, breathtaking cinematography, and powerful ocean conservation messages to audiences across British Columbia. 

Celebrating the beauty and wonder of our ocean, this internationally acclaimed festival has captivated viewers in 14 countries and continues to grow across Canada. 

2026 Tour Dates 
Nanaimo – September 16, 2026 
North Vancouver – September 17, 2026 
Squamish – September 19, 2026 
Victoria – September 22, 2026 
Terrace – February 2027 

Dive into an unforgettable evening of ocean adventure, exploration, and inspiration. 

Learn more and get tickets at oceanfilmfestivalcanada.ca. 

• Waves of Change 
  Youth-led organization turning concern for the oceans into coordinated action through three core program areas designed for schools, students, and partners. 

• BC Premiere of the Nuxalk documentary ‘Ceremony,’ directed by Banchi Hanuse, at Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) 
  When the Nuxalk trace their vanished ooligan run alongside a land claim filed the day smallpox arrived, their radio station becomes courtroom, confessional and conjuring ground, where an older law insists: the fish and the people return together or not at all. Playing October 4/6/10. Find out more and buy tickets. 

• ScienceUpFirst 
  This site helps equip Canadians with science-based knowledge to make informed choices and confidently join the conversation. 

• Seven Sisters on the Salish Sea: Our Sacred Duty 
  Join First Nations People and the Seven Sisters standing up for the health of the Salish Sea event. September 21, 2026 St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church 1022 Nelson St. Vancouver, BC 6pm-8pm 

• KELL̵OLEMEĆEN (Killer Whales) 
  Three-minute audiobook full of facts about the KELL̵OLEMEĆEN (Killer Whales) living in the waters of W̱SÁNEĆ’s traditional territory. 

• "Elbows up for Nature"
  Canadian Public Perceptions of Nature and Nature Conservation in Amid accelerating biodiversity loss, climate change, and rising geopolitical tensions, understanding public perceptions of Nature's role in national identity and security is increasingly important. Yet little is known about how Canadians themselves understand the place of Nature in national identity, prosperity, and security. To address this gap, this cross-sectional online survey was conducted of more than 2,000 adults across Canada. 

• Extraction does not equal control: New report warns deep seabed mining risks worsening global insecurity
  WWF-backed report argues ocean health is key to security and details how a precautionary pause or moratorium on deep seabed mining – coupled with circular economy approaches – can achieve long-term resilience.