British Columbia’s Seafood Sector to be Showcased on FIFA World Cup Stage

B.C. will use Vancouver’s FIFA World Cup 2026 stage to showcase its wild and farmed seafood sectors to global buyers, investors and business leaders through a dedicated trade and investment hub set up for the world’s premier soccer tournament.

By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews

British Columbia will use FIFA World Cup 2026 in Vancouver to showcase the strength of both its farmed and wild seafood sectors, in front of international investors, buyers and business leaders.

The showcase will be part of BC Business House, a provincial trade and investment hub that will promote key industries during the tournament, including agriculture and food, tourism, energy, life sciences, mining, technology, and trade and logistics infrastructure.

Seafood will be part of the agriculture and food pitch, giving B.C. a global stage to promote a sector that generated $1.6 billion in revenue from exports in 2024, produced $567 million in GDP and supported thousands of jobs across aquaculture, capture fisheries and seafood processing.

Seven BC Business House events are scheduled from June 12 to July 7, 2026, aligned with match days in Vancouver. The venue will be used for sector showcases; business meetings, investor briefings and events aimed at connecting B.C. companies with global customers and partners.

“Major global events, like the World Cup, create valuable opportunities to showcase everything British Columbia has to offer and create new connections to the global economy,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth.

“Soccer is a phenomenal game that unites people and cultures from around the world, and we are working to bring together B.C.’s key business sectors to host customers, investors and partners to make sure that the jobs created and economic benefits of these games far outlast the final goal.”

BC Business House is being presented by the province in partnership with Invest in Canada and Invest Vancouver. It supports B.C.’s Look West strategy, which aims to expand exports to non-U.S. markets, strengthen trade ties with Asia and Europe, double the amount of goods moving through B.C. ports and attract $200 billion in private-sector investment in major projects over the next decade.

The province said the World Cup gives B.C. a chance to turn global attention into longer-term economic opportunities, with international investors and business leaders already expected in Vancouver for the matches.

“The FIFA World Cup is more than a sporting event. With the world’s attention on Vancouver, we have a unique opportunity to demonstrate why British Columbia is the place to do business, innovate and grow,” said Bridgitte Anderson, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

“We have great companies across B.C., and we look forward to showcasing their strengths, building international partnerships and attracting investment.”

B.C.’s seafood sector gives the province one of its strongest agrifood export stories.

Government data shows B.C. exports more than 168 different seafood products, as part of a wider agrifood economy that exports more than 500 agriculture, food and seafood products.

In 2024, seafood and fisheries generated $1.6 billion in revenue from goods. Aquaculture accounted for roughly $700 million, seafood processing also generated about $700 million, and capture fisheries had a commercial landed value of about $400 million.

On GDP, seafood and fisheries generated $567 million in 2024. Aquaculture accounted for about $134 million, capture fisheries for $208 million, and seafood processing for $225 million.

The figures show aquaculture, led by farmed salmon, is a major part of the sector’s economic base. Farmed Atlantic salmon was B.C.’s single largest seafood export in 2024, worth $417 million, up 6.9 per cent from the previous year. Chinook salmon exports added $56 million, up 10.2 per cent.

B.C. farmed salmon generates more than $1.17 billion in economic activity and supports 4,560 full-time jobs,   all in partnership with First Nations.

The Port of Vancouver is expected to play a central role in the province’s broader World Cup trade pitch.

Peter Xotta, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, said the port connects Canadian businesses with more than 170 overseas markets and moves $1 billion in cargo every day.

“We are collaborating with government and industry to build relationships and invest in infrastructure that will help grow exports to non-U.S. markets in support of a strong, resilient Canadian economy. We are all Team Canada, from pitch to port.”

The seafood showcase comes as B.C.’s salmon farming sector faces continuing uncertainty over Ottawa’s plan to transition away from open-net salmon farms on the West Coast by 2029.

  Industry groups, First Nations partners and coastal communities have warned the policy will reduce domestic seafood production, weaken processing capacity, cut rural jobs and increase Canada’s reliance on imported salmon.

Tourism Minister Anne Kang said the World Cup will help B.C. show its economic strengths to international visitors and investors.

For the seafood sector, the World Cup will offer more than a marketing opportunity.

“It will put B.C. seafood, both farmed and wild,  in front of global buyers, investors and decision-makers at a time when demand for high-value protein, reliable supply chains and trade diversification is growing,” said an industry analyst.