Atlantic Canada will host the 22nd edition of the GOAL conference in the fall of 2023. GOAL: The Responsible Seafood Conference will bring 500 seafood industry leaders from around the world to the host city of Saint John, New Brunswick. This is only the second time GOAL will have been held in Canada, with Vancouver being the host city in 2015. GOAL has been held in 18 cities on four continents (North America, South America, Europe and Asia) since 2001 and is being held in Seattle in the fall of 2022 and Scotland in the fall of 2024.

“Atlantic Canada is a major seafood producer on the global aquaculture scene, particularly with salmon. The region’s finfish and shellfish aquaculture farmers have embraced best practices and are highly regarded as responsible and significant contributors to the rural coastal economy and working waterfronts in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Coupled with a rich tradition of wild-harvest fisheries, New Brunswick is an ideal fit for GOAL 2023 and GSA,” said GSA CEO, Brian Perkins.

The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA), the trade association representing the region’s fish-farming sector, led the bid and will work with Canada’s federal government, New Brunswick’s provincial government and other seafood industry bodies throughout Atlantic Canada, including several producer associations for both farmed and wild seafood, to deliver the event along with GSA.

For 21 years GOAL has acted as a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst industry, NGOs, academia, government, retail, and food service. It’s a unique blend of professionals representing both farmed and wild seafood, united by an ever-evolving, forward-thinking conference program that identifies emerging challenges and offers solutions to those challenges. Moderated by GSA’s subject matter experts, GOAL’s carefully curated program features around 60 international speakers and centers on production, sustainability, innovation, and market trends.