The National Seafood Marketing Coalition was invited to brief the U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus on the subject of “Seafood Jobs in America”. The briefing was held on the afternoon of March 29th, in the U.S. Senate Energy Committee room.
WASHINGTON – April 2, 2012 ‐ In a historic effort to sustain and grow jobs in the U.S. seafood industry, the National Seafood Marketing Coalition briefed the U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus on seafood jobs in America and the importance of the U.S. seafood industry to our national and regional economies. The briefing was held in Washington D.C. on March 29, 2012.
The director of the National Seafood Marketing Coalition, Bruce Schactler, led a panel of economists and representatives from the seafood industry encompassing most of the nation’s major fishing regions. The discussion highlighted the contribution of jobs and economic value from seafood nationwide, the effect of global market competition to the industry, and opportunity and challenges the seafood industry faces in increasing U.S. seafood jobs and value.
Other panelists included Phil Lansing (Analytical Consulting, Seafood Economist), Dr. David Veal (Executive Director of American Shrimp Processor's Assoc.), Natalie Webster (Director of American Albacore Fishing Association and U.S. Pole & Troll Albacore Fishery), Jack Brooks (President of J M Clayton Co.), and Dane Sommers (Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Council).
The support for the efforts of the National Seafood Marketing Coalition has grown to encompass seventy‐five (75) organizations, including industry organizations from across the Gulf of Mexico, up and down the East and West Coasts, Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. aquaculture industry, and five (5) state Legislatures (Maine, Rhode Island, Florida, Louisiana, and Alaska).
Watch the video (approximately 1 hour).