First Nations-led fishery becomes the only MSC certified salmon fishery in British Columbia
April 15, 2026 - - The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announces that the Walcan Quinsam River Pink Salmon fishery (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in British Columbia, Canada has achieved certification to the MSC Fisheries Standard for environmentally sustainable fishing.
This milestone marks the only salmon fishery in British Columbia currently certified to the MSC standard, providing a new source of certified environmentally sustainable Canadian seafood for local and global markets.
“This MSC certification reflects decades of stewardship and collaboration,” said Cameron Pirie, President of Walcan Seafood. “Working alongside the We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum Nations to harvest only surplus salmon we’re able to protect the resource while bringing a premium product to market.”
The fishery’s unique location at the Quinsam River weir —a tributary of the Campbell River on the east coast of Vancouver Island—enables precise, selective management and careful handling. The fishery occurs during the pink salmon run from late July through October, only in years when salmon returns are surplus to the need for natural spawning and hatchery broodstock. Non-target species are intercepted in low numbers and are released upstream unharmed, minimizing environmental impact.
Under the Reconciliation Framework Agreement for Fisheries Resources, fishery operations including monitoring, science and harvesting are largely coordinated by the A-Tlegay Member Nations: We Wai Kai Nation, Wei Wai Kum First Nation, Kwiakah First Nation, Tlowitsis Nation, and K’ómoks First Nation. Revenues from fish sales are reinvested directly into member communities, supporting local economic development.
“As a species that is central to the cultural and economic fabric of coastal communities in British Columbia, we are thrilled to have wild Canadian salmon in the MSC program,’ said Kurtis Hayne, Program Director for MSC Canada. “The Walcan Quinsam River fishery is an example of strong Indigenous leadership, careful stewardship, and science-based decision-making that delivers positive outcomes for both ecosystems and communities.”
Walcan Seafood Ltd., licensed by First Nations for the receipt and marketing of the catch, can now offer pink salmon bearing the MSC blue fish label—one of the world’s most recognized marks of environmentally sustainable seafood.