Saving Seafood

Multi-Agency Investigation Cracks Down on Fish Fraud

February 19, 2021 — The following was released by the Better Seafood Board:

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York has charged four men for their part in an alleged plot to import mislabeled fish into the United States.  The defendants were arrested yesterday and will appear before a judge today.

“This is a great example of agencies focusing enforcement efforts on fish fraud and having an impact,” said John Petrizzo Director of Operations for Harbor Seafood, Inc. and Chair of the Better Seafood Board. “Here we see the United States Attorney, Department of Homeland Security, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and USDA’s Inspector General all working together to investigate and prosecute these suspects. Dedicating those kinds of resources to a fish fraud case sends a loud and clear message.”

Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh called the suspects part of a “transnational criminal organization.” The scheme allegedly involved bringing mislabeled fish in from Myanmar and Bangladesh for sale through a company called Asia Foods Distributor Inc. The criminal complaint shows law enforcement tracking mislabeled shipments as far back as 2018. Investigators describe the alleged crime as a “very lucrative scheme.”

“We don’t need new laws or more regulations, we need enforcement and that’s what we are seeing today from these federal agencies,” said Petrizzo. “Hats off to them and their efforts to stamp out fish fraud.”

Longtime seafood industry veteran Stephen Thompson dead at 67

November 17, 2020 — Longtime seafood industry veteran and Harbor Seafood Director of Quality Assurance Stephen Thompson passed away on 15 November at the age of 67.

Thompson was a long-time member of the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), joining the association 35 years ago, and served as a leader on the technical committee. He was also a member of the NFI Crab Council representing Harbor Seafood, and served on the board of directors of the Seafood Industry Research Fund.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

National Fisheries Institute Statement on the Passing of Stephen Thompson

November 16, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The seafood community has lost a technical giant and brilliant smile.  Stephen Thompson was a seafood veteran who could solve any regulation implementation or food safety problem … and do it with wit and good-natured spirit showing through his iconic moustache.  He will be sorely missed.

Stephen first joined the National Fisheries Institute 35 years ago.  He was a leader of the association’s Technical Committee and most recently proudly represented Harbor Seafood on the NFI Crab Council.  Stephen also served on the Seafood Industry Research Fund’s board of directors.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his colleagues, and everyone who was blessed to have known Stephen.