22 – 24 SEPTEMBER 2026
The Westin Nova Scotian | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Conference registrations are now open.
Join us this September for our annual gathering, hosted in Canada for the very first time. We are proud to once again host leading NGOs, businesses, foundations, and academia, united in their belief that the responsible seafood movement can protect our ocean and the people who depend on it. And most critically, sharing a conviction that impactful cooperation makes this vision a reality.
Every year is an invaluable opportunity to learn about emerging trends in the movement, bring visibility to your environmental and social responsibility efforts, and forge strategic partnerships with old and new colleagues within our community.
Building on the momentum of exploring traditional food and waterways on Hawaii’s Big Island in 2025, the CASS Conference will again immerse participants in the host region’s culture and unique sustainable seafood practices, inspiring ongoing innovation and collaboration.
We can’t wait to learn, connect, and explore alongside you.
Conference registrations are open!
Registration fees include the Tuesday evening Welcome Reception, breakfast and lunch on the Wednesday and Thursday meeting days, and the optional “Day Zero” half-day.
Early Bird Registration: 800.00 USD (available until Friday, 15 May 2026)
Single Registration: 875.00 USD (available until Friday, 14 August 2026)
Information about optional activities and dinner plans will be offered closer to the event date.
International Travel Note: When preparing for travel, please ensure you have the proper identification and supporting documents required to enter Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) from your home country. CASS will not be able to assist with any customs issues. Contact jasmine@solutionsforseafood.org with any questions.
This year’s conference will take place at The Westin Nova Scotian, located in historic Halifax Harbour. Book through the link below to secure your room at the special conference rate. Please see below for additional information for booking:
Start Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
End Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
Group rate: 309.00 CAD – 319.00 CAD per night
Last Day to Book: Friday, 14 August 2026
Please note that a limited number of rooms will be available pre- and post-event on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to book as soon as you can.
Programming will span two full days, Wednesday, September 23rd, and Thursday, September 24th, along with an optional “Day Zero” half-day session on Tuesday before the conference. The detailed agenda, optional field trips, and evening activities will be announced as they become available.
Alliance members will lead conversations in two formats this year: deep-dive Workshops and our first-ever “Fish Market,” an update to our long-standing Lightning Rounds. Our speakers will guide us in exploring social responsibility efforts, accountability and transparency, responsible seafood in East Asia, NGO/Business engagement, and other emerging challenges and opportunities.
When making travel arrangements, we encourage you to arrive no later than Tuesday afternoon to attend the Welcome Reception and stay through Thursday evening for the conference close. The special conference rate at the hotel applies from the previous Saturday, September 19th, to the following Sunday, September 27th, if you would like to spend additional time exploring Halifax and partaking in optional field trips.
A high-level draft of the agenda is below to give a rough idea of timing (all subject to change):
Shape the conference! We are soliciting proposals for two session types this year, short Fish Market presentations and longer-form Workshops. If your session proposal is accepted, you are responsible for all expenses associated with attending the conference, including registration fee, hotel stay, and travel.
Learn more about each session type and submit your proposals below:
- Fish Market: Borrowing from the past CASS Conference “Lightning Round” format, the “Fish Market” consists of 5-minute presentations in plenary, followed by small-group discussions. Presenters will create decks introducing their research or initiatives to share with attendees digitally before the conference. During Fish Market sessions, presenters will have five minutes to pique the audience’s interest in their initiative before breaking into roundtables for further discussion. Attendees will hear all presentations and select one roundtable to attend.
- Workshops: Workshops are 2-hour, deep-dive sessions for problem-solving on specific topics CASS has been exploring throughout the year, with a clear output. We are soliciting proposals for workshops on the following topics:
- Accelerating Social Responsibility
- Accountability and Transparency
- Advancing Responsible Seafood in East Asia
- NGO/Business Engagement
Attendees are welcome to submit proposals for both the Fish Market and Workshops. Please note that we encourage proposals from those who would be speaking at the CASS Conference for the first time.
The submission deadline is Friday, 10 April 2026.
Reach out to our Director of Community Engagement, Laura Miller, at laura@solutionsforseafood.org with any questions.
The Alliance strives to create equitable access to our conference and keeps registration fees as low as possible. Still, we recognize that attending the conference may be cost-prohibitive for some of our members.
To support the attendance of community members who hold marginalized identities historically underrepresented in the responsible seafood movement, we are proud to offer one scholarship that will subsidize the registration and/or travel costs for one person (one free conference registration plus travel coverage of up to 1,500.00 USD), plus three free conference registrations.
This year, we are awarding scholarships to people with the following identities:
- A community member who identifies as a person of color
- A community member who identifies as a woman/genderqueer
- A community member who identifies as LGBTQ+
- A community member who identifies as having a visible or invisible disability
First-time attendees are strongly encouraged to apply! To submit a scholarship application, please complete the form below. All information obtained in the form will remain confidential.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through Friday, 1 May 2026.
Each year, we celebrate those who go above and beyond to support the work of CASS, embody the spirit of collaboration, and remain committed to advancing the movement through the Responsible Seafood Awards.
Recipients are nominated by their fellow CASS members in four different categories. The description for each award is below:
- Alliance Board Member of the Year: acknowledges an individual who has truly put the needs of the Alliance and the greater good of the community first while serving as a board member. They have provided guidance, support, and strategic oversight to the Alliance organization and staff.
- Outstanding Contribution: acknowledges individuals who have contributed to Alliance collective action or community in a significant way.
- Spirit Award: acknowledges an individual who embodies the Alliance’s collaborative spirit, shares openly and often, and maintains a strong commitment to service.
Even if you are unable to attend the CASS Conference this year, we welcome your nominations!
Since 2010, the CASS Conference has established itself as the place where the responsible seafood sector’s relationships are built and strengthened. It’s a curated space to explore pressing issues, expand networks, and spark new partnerships.
We invite you to
In addition to the tiered sponsor levels, we have several exclusive sponsorships to offer this year. Check here for the latest update on what is available:
- Welcome Reception: (1) Available
- NGO/Industry Mixer: (1) Available
- Local Field Trips: (1) Available
- Evening Celebration: (1) Available
- Scholarship Fund Match: (1) Available
- High-Welfare Seafood Spotlight: (1) Available
- Coffee Breaks: (1) Available
- Local Catch (In-Kind): Unlimited Available
We look forward to partnering with you to make a lasting impact on the future of sustainable seafood while strengthening your brand’s leadership in environmental and social responsibility.
Reach out to our Executive Director, Meaghan Hudgins, at meaghan@solutionsforseafood.org with any questions.
Not a CASS member yet? We’d love to welcome you to our community and have you attend the 2026 CASS Conference. Align yourself with experts and enthusiasts working towards a common goal within the responsible seafood movement and jumpstart your networking at our curated event. To explore how we can help you amplify your efforts, email our Director of Community Engagement, Laura Miller, at laura@solutionsforseafood.org.
Check out some highlights from the 2025 CASS Conference, our 15th anniversary gathering, in Waikoloa, Hawaii below:
“CASS CON” spelled out in nautical flags, celebrating Halifax’s iconic port and maritime history.
