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Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America New Dates Announced

April 6, 2020 — The following was released by Seafood Expo North America:

Today, Diversified Communications, organizer of the annual Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, announced the new dates for its 2020 event. The expo will take place at the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center this September 2020, with an exhibit hall open on September 23rd and 24th, and a conference program that will start on September 22nd.

In the last few months and weeks, the seafood industry and community, along with the rest of the world, have been experiencing some of the most tumultuous, emotionally and economically challenging times. “While navigating this unprecedented situation, we know there is a need for business continuity and are committed to providing a platform that will bring back together the industry suppliers and buyers who, due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, were prevented from meeting in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Liz Plizga, Group Vice President, Diversified Communications.

The September dates were carefully chosen in consideration of the recent escalating situation with COVID-19, the venue availability, as well as feedback from customers and high-volume retail and foodservice Key Buyers from North America.

“It is fair to say that this year’s event will not be like any other years,” added Plizga. “However, the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America team is dedicated to delivering a high-quality event and services that are as similar as possible to what our customers have come to expect over the years.”

The September edition will feature a solutions-driven conference program led by industry experts covering today’s most relevant topics. The exhibit hall, which will be held in Halls B and C, will highlight special programs like the New and Featured Product Showcases where buyers can identify the latest seafood product, equipment and services, innovations and trends.

In the coming weeks, Diversified Communications and its official partners, will reach out to exhibitors, buyers and other seafood professionals to provide further details about the September event. New information will be included at seafoodexpo.com/north-america.

The 2021 event is scheduled during the same time frame as in past years: March 14-16, 2021.

Read the full release here

NFI Statement on the Rescheduling of Seafood Expo North America

April 3, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

During a time of such upheaval and uncertainty for all it is exciting that the forward-looking planners at Diversified rescheduled Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America for September 22-24, 2020 in Boston.

There is an old adage that action cures anxiety.  In these anxious times a date-certain allows the global seafood community to begin planning for a new and exciting Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America 2020 where we will all reconnect and look toward the future of seafood sales.  NFI looks forward to working with Diversified to provide a unique opportunity for NFI members and the broader seafood community to plan collaboratively for the future. 
 
We look forward to seeing our members and friends exhibiting in Boston. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy.

September dates announced for Seafood Expo North America

April 2, 2020 — New dates have been selected for Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, the continent’s largest seafood industry exhibition.

The 2020 event will comprise an exhibit hall open 23 and 24 September at its regular home in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A, and a conference program that will begin on 22 September.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

ASGA Hires New Executive Director

March 30, 2020 — The following was released by the American Saltwater Guides Association:

The American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA), a coalition of forward-thinking guides, small business owners and like-minded anglers who understand the value of keeping fish in the water, today announced that William (“Willy”) M. Goldsmith, Ph.D., has joined the organization as Executive Director, effective April 1, 2020.  In this role, Goldsmith will advise on policy and regulatory strategy and lead membership outreach and engagement, fundraising and day-to-day operations.

A lifelong angler with a background in fisheries science, Goldsmith joins the ASGA after spending the past two years working in fishery management in Washington, DC, first as a Sea Grant Knauss Fellow with Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and more recently at the Lenfest Ocean Program.  In those roles, Willy engaged with fishery stakeholders and constituents on key management issues and communicated policy-relevant research to decision-makers.  Before arriving in Washington, DC, he received a doctorate in Marine Science with a sub-concentration in Marine Policy from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at William and Mary, where his research focused on characterizing the biological impacts and human dimensions of the U.S. east coast recreational Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. He received a B.A. in History with a Secondary Field in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University.

“A year ago, we set out to provide a powerful voice to the recreational fishing community to support the conservation of our fisheries, and have made a material impact on the way a number of important fish are managed on the East Coast,” said Peter Jenkins, Chairman of the ASGA Board of Directors and Owner of the Saltwater Edge tackle shop in Newport, Rhode Island.  “Our work is just getting started, and adding someone with Willy’s experience, contacts and understanding of the way fisheries are managed will enable us to more effectively engage on critical management issues for the benefit of fishing guides, tackle shops and other businesses in the fishing industry, and conservation-minded anglers everywhere.”

“Willy has quickly become a well-known and respected fishery management mind in Washington, DC, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the ASGA team,” said Tony Friedrich, Vice-President and Policy Director of the ASGA.  “In addition to his exceptional grasp of both fishery science and policy, Willy shares the passion for fishing that we were founded on and is committed to helping ensure that we have abundant marine resources for generations to come.  We are proud of what we have accomplished in our first year, but believe Willy’s addition will allow us to significantly accelerate our impact as we continue to fight for abundant and responsibly managed fish stocks that support the needs of the recreational angling community and the businesses that rely on them.”

“I have closely followed the ASGA since it was founded, and am honored and humbled at the opportunity to advance its mission and promote its values,” said Goldsmith.  “In a remarkably short time, the ASGA has activated and mobilized thousands of for-hire captains, private anglers, business owners and concerned citizens in the name of marine fish conservation, providing the community with a unified voice. I look forward to joining this effort and to advocating for common-sense, science-based management strategies while also building partnerships across fisheries sectors to conserve and rebuild our nation’s fisheries.”

The ASGA is hosting a live video introduction for Goldsmith on its Facebook page on April 2, 2020 at 12pm EST, where it will also discuss key priorities and plans for the next several months.  To attend that discussion, please visit https://www.facebook.com/salth2oguides/ at 12pm on April 2.

Read the full release here

Highlighting Women in Electronic Technologies: Part 2

March 27, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Electronic monitoring and electronic reporting technologies are being developed to support science-based management decisions in commercial and recreational fisheries. NOAA Fisheries is working with fishermen and industry organizations, fishery management councils, and many other partners. We will improve the timeliness, quality, cost effectiveness, and accessibility of fishery-dependent data by integrating technology into fishery reporting and monitoring programs. Learn about nine women from around the country that are helping shape the future of electronic technologies in U.S fisheries.

Mel Sanderson
Chief Operating Officer
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance
Chatham, Massachusetts

Originally from Minnesota, Mel Sanderson received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Occidental College. She earned her master’s of coastal environmental management from Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment. While in graduate school, Mel interned with the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association (now the Fishermen’s Alliance). The following October, the Alliance asked if she wanted to come back after she graduated to manage a new cooperative research project that she helped design while interning. Almost 16 years later, she’s still there. She works to ensure the sustainability of both the fisheries and the small fishing businesses that rely upon them. She has held almost every role at the Fishermen’s Alliance—a direct consequence of always being willing to say yes to whatever needed to be done in a small non-profit. She also has great bosses that support her need for a fresh challenge every few years.

In her role, Mel manages the regional electronic monitoring (EM) pre-implementation project for New England groundfish. She contracts with EM service providers and coordinates with NOAA and more than 20 fishermen. Together, they design, troubleshoot, and refine the EM audit model program design.

Read the full release here

Women’s History Month: Talking with Kate Sampson

March 26, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

What do you do as the Sea Turtle Stranding and Disentanglement Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region?

I oversee a network of organizations that respond to and care for stranded (sick, injured, or dead) and entangled sea turtles. There are many facets of this role, including coordinating the placement of sick or injured sea turtles in rehabilitation facilities, solving state and federal permitting issues. I help locate pilots and planes to carry turtles south for release into warmer waters and consistent communication through the network. I also manage the important data collected from these events.

What do you like best about your job?

I enjoy working with the dedicated, caring staff and volunteers in the network. They impress me every day with their tireless efforts to rescue these endangered and threatened sea turtles.

What’s the hardest part of your job?

The hardest part is witnessing the conflict between sea turtles and human activities, such as boating, recreational and commercial fishing, and marine debris. Documentation of strandings is a vital source of information about the threats facing sea turtles. However, it’s difficult to see the results of these conflicts and not have immediate solutions. We continue to try to understand these conflicts and brainstorm new ways to address them.

Read the full release here

Women’s History Month: Talking with Jui-Han Chang

March 26, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Can you tell us about your science journey, your career in science?

My journey to science was not the shortest, but it was the luckiest. I grew up in Taiwan, a small but beautiful island country about 100 miles off the coast of southeastern China. It’s surrounded by spectacular oceans and full of rugged mountains. My dad is an amateur ecologist and my mom is an environmental advocate. It seemed all the cards were lined up for a career in the natural sciences, but nothing particularly inspired me until later.

When I was young, I was lost. I struggled in schools because I couldn’t find anything interesting enough to make me want to study hard, but I went to college anyway. I was a business major at Aletheia University in Taiwan. It was not my choice, but was the only option based on my scores on the test Taiwanese students take to get selected for colleges and majors. During college I went scuba diving, which was part of a swimming coach training. It was love at first sight, my first glimpse into the mystery of the ocean. At the time, I didn’t know what I was looking at, but I knew I loved this different but beautiful world. That’s when I knew I should change my career path.

After barely finishing with a business degree, I decided to go to graduate school. I wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do because of my poor grades, but it was the best decision I ever made. I applied to the National Taiwan Ocean University’s Institute of Marine Resource Management and was accepted. I lucked out because they were looking for students with a multidisciplinary background.

Read the full release here

Highlighting Women in Electronic Technologies: Part 1

March 25, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Electronic monitoring and electronic reporting technologies are being developed to support science-based management decisions in commercial and recreational fisheries. NOAA Fisheries is working with fishermen and industry organizations, fishery management councils, and many other partners. We will improve the timeliness, quality, cost effectiveness, and accessibility of fishery-dependent data by integrating technology into fishery reporting and monitoring programs. Learn about nine women from around the country that are helping shape the future of electronic technologies in U.S fisheries.

Julie Bonney

Owner and Executive Director
Alaska Groundfish Data Bank, Inc.
Kodiak, Alaska

Julie Bonney was born and raised in Colville, Washington, a small logging and farming community in eastern Washington. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Puget Sound and her master’s in environmental science from Drexel University. In 1984, Julie moved with her husband to Kodiak, Alaska. In the early 1990s, Julie reached out to the then-owner of Alaska Groundfish Data Bank (AGDB), Chris Blackburn, for advice about joining the observer program. As a mother of three young children, Julie soon realized that being an at-sea observer was not feasible. Instead, Chris offered Julie a job as an analyst. She continued to work there and eventually bought the business. 

Julie and her company have been involved in three electronic monitoring projects since 2007.  First, AGDB tested at sea electronic monitoring for vessels that participated in the Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Limited Access Privilege program in 2007 and 2008. The results of this project showed that observer coverage was similar in cost to monitoring with cameras. Currently, AGDB is involved in two projects:

  • The Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) for pelagic trawl pollock fishing using electronic monitoring (EM) for compliance monitoring in both the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea pollock fisheries.
  • EM as an audit tool so that fish ticket counts of salmon reported by processors can be used in the catch accounting system to inform the hard Chinook salmon cap for the rockfish fishery in the CGOA (1,200 fish).

Within her current role, Julie enjoys problem solving and working with fishermen and processors. She also enjoys improving fishery management in collaboration with the trawl sector and NOAA Fisheries personnel.

“As a woman in fisheries, you must demonstrate your capacity and be one of the smartest people in the room. Have the confidence and be strong-willed enough to step outside traditional roles. Women have the ability to think more globally and be more multidimensional which is essential to solve our fishery problems since the fishing industry is so complicated and multilayered.  As a mother and a woman, I tend to mother my membership (some of the people I work for actually call me ‘mom’).”

Read the full release here

Update: New Deadline and Submission Details for the 2020 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest

March 23, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Due to the recent developments of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, we understand that several of the schools across the nation are currently closed. Our office in Gloucester, Massachusetts also has restricted access to the general public and we have been encouraged to work from home.

Because we are not in the building, and we do not know when we will return, we can no longer accept any physical art entries this year. However, to keep the contest going and to encourage students to learn about marine endangered species while they are home, we will gladly accept any electronic pictures or scans of the students’ artwork for this year’s contest!

All students have to do is take a picture or scan their artwork and email it to edith.carson-supino@noaa.gov by no later than April 24. The revised art contest rules are located on our 2020 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest  webpage.

Artwork should highlight one or more marine endangered or threatened species from the New England/Mid-Atlantic region. Text highlighting why the animals are important and what people can do to protect them may also be included. Younger students, in grades K-2, who may not understand the threats to endangered species (i.e., pollution, fishing, etc.) are encouraged to portray the animals in their natural habitat instead.

Read the full release here

Women’s History Month: Talking with Jennifer Goebel

March 20, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

What do you do as the Public Affairs Officer for NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region?

My primary job is to get the message out about what we are doing and why we are doing it. We do a number of different things here, from regulating fisheries to protecting vulnerable fish, sea turtles, and marine mammals, to restoring important habitat. I tell the stories of what we do here at NOAA Fisheries, and why it matters. I use a variety of tools, including emails, our website, traditional press, and social media.

What do you like best about your job?

My days are incredibly varied and often take unexpected turns. I might be helping to pull together a response to congressional staff on summer flounder. Or, I could be answering questions about Atlantic sturgeon critical habitat for a reporter. I might be editing a web story on dam removals, sending out emails about new fisheries regulations, or tweeting about right whale sightings. Sometimes I get calls from fishermen wanting to know what the latest regulations are or telling me why they don’t like them. No two days are the same. Keeps life interesting!

What’s the hardest part of your job?

I am the quintessential jack-of-all-trades and master of none. I rely on our wonderful staff here at GARFO to answer or help me answer the questions I get. Probably the hardest part of my job is actually tracking down the busy staff person I need to answer the question. It’s even harder if it comes in later in the day. You’ll see me roaming the halls to see who’s still here who might be able to fill me in.

Read the full release here