September 23, 2022 — John Connelly, the president of the National Fisheries Institute, a McLean, Virigina, U.S.A.-based nonprofit organization that is the U.S. seafood industry’s largest trade group, has been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer.
Connelly informed the NFI Board of Directors about the diagnosis on 22 September, 2022, and NFI subsequently put out a press release that included a statement from Connelly.
September 21, 2022 — The National Fisheries Institute (NFI), National Restaurant Association (NRA), National Retail Federation (NRF), National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR), and over 150 fishing companies have come out in opposition to an effort to renew the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA).
The Maine Lobster Dealers’ Association, At-Sea Processors Association, and other industry groups penned a a letter to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Raul M. Grijalva (D-Arizona) opposing H.R. 4690. According to the letter, the current effort would “throw the U.S. fishing and seafood sector into chaos.”
January 18, 2022 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:
John Connelly discussed with the NFI Board of Directors today his intention to retire from NFI in February 2023. He has served as NFI President since February 2003.
“I very much appreciate working with member company leaders and an excellent and dedicated staff in creating the strong foundation on which NFI can build,” Connelly said. “The NFI Officers have emphasized over the past two years the importance of an orderly transition and thoughtful succession planning. Announcing this decision now allows NFI leadership the necessary time to engage NFI members to gain critical input as we choose a new president for the future.”
Kim Gorton, President and CEO of Slade Gorton and Company, will lead a Search Committee. “I am pleased that the Board today approved a search committee comprised of leaders from various member companies who represent a wide range of experiences and viewpoints,” said Gorton. An important part of this process will be to hear the views of NFI membership regarding NFI’s mission and key objectives over the next decade, and in particular, how NFI can continue to create value for its members. We want to ensure we select the right leader for what NFI members expect and need in the coming years, and not just based on where we are now in 2022.”
“In addition to NFI’ s ongoing technical, communications and advocacy work, this year we have the opportunity to think about the future. The Board looks forward to working with Kim and John to ensure a robust and smooth succession process,” said NFI Chair Mike Breivik.
Search Committee members include Kim Gorton (Slade Gorton), Joe Bundrant (Trident Seafoods), Ellen Clarry (Ruby Tuesday), Justin Conrad (Bay Hill and Libby Hill), Jeff Stern (Central Seaway), Jan Tharp (Bumble Bee Foods), and Sylvia Wulf (AquaBounty)
August 25, 2021 — The seafood industry is mourning the death of Harbor Seafood Founder Peter Cardone, who passed away on 21 August at the age of 76.
Cardone began his career as a chef in New York City, and went on to found Harbor Seafood in 1975 as a general food brokerage. Under Cardone’s guidance, the company became an international seafood importer and exporter.
August 23, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:
With the passing, on 21 August, of Harbor Seafood founder Peter Cardone, the seafood community has lost a pioneer, a leader, and a truly charitable soul.
Pete started as a chef in New York City and built his vision into a company that sources globally and continues to innovate. He did so while helping others and an industry that he loved. Few NFI members could resist the “Cardone Call” when he would telephone asking they support a charitable cause. He is a past Chairman of the National Fisheries Institute and his guidance and generosity will be missed.
Pete’s wife, Josephine, his family, and his many, many friends are in our thoughts and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, the Cardone family requests donations be made to Sacred Heart of Jesus Church 215-35 38th Ave, Bayside NY 11361, In memory of Peter Cardone.
August 16, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:
The National Fisheries Institute announces it has hired Morgan Bell as its new Director, Public Policy. Bell spent four years as a part of Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton’s staff. Among other duties, she served as both a Regional Director and as a Fisheries Policy Advisor to the Congressman
“We’re thrilled to have Morgan on board,” said NFI’s Vice President for Government Affairs, Robert DeHaan. “She brings a unique perspective to our work that combines fisheries policy and sustainability with trade and commerce. It’s a valuable mix that will greatly benefit NFI’s members.”
Bell earned a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of International Affairs.
“Morgan was the local, district, and federal fisheries liaison for a Hill office. She knows fisheries from water to table,” said NFI Chairman, Seattle Fish President & CEO, Derek Figueroa. “Seafood isn’t just wild capture or aquaculture, imports or exports. It’s all of those things. Having a professional who understands that policy impacts the entire value chain is vital. I am excited to see Morgan bring her expertise and passion to NFI’s important work representing our members.”
Bell grew up in Gloucester, Massachusetts and did her undergraduate studies at Wheaton College in Massachusetts.
“From policy and funding matters on the Hill, to promotion of sustainable aquaculture and blue technology innovation, seafood is a common thread running through my professional and academic work as well as my personal background,” said Bell. “Joining NFI is a natural next step, and I am excited about the challenge.”
NFI members will have the opportunity to meet Bell during the association’s 2021 Political Conference in Washington, D.C., starting September 20.
July 20, 2021 — The Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division (NAD) has determined pouched and canned tuna supplier Safe Catch provided a “reasonable basis” for several mercury and sustainability ad claims, but recommended that others be modified or discontinued.
The National Fisheries Institute (NFI), a trade group representing the U.S. seafood industry including some of the largest processors of canned and pouched tuna in the United States, requested the review of Safe Catch’s ad claims.
July 20, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:
The National Fisheries Institute’s Red Crab Council and its partners – Ocean Outcomes (O2) and Tao Ran on the ground in China – have renewed their annual contract to keep the comprehensive Red Crab Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) on track.
“For a number of years the Red Crab fishery has faced adversity from things like the pandemic, the market and tariffs,” said Newport International President Anjan Tharakan, the NFI Red Crab Council Chair. “But none of the companies we partner with, and certainly not O2 nor Tao Ran, have lost sight of the importance of working hard towards the most sustainable fishery possible. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. If nothing, this is one committed group.”
The FIP is focused on improving crab production in Fujian Province, the leading harvesting region in China for red crab.
The NFI Red Crab Council funds the work by assessing a fee on its members based on the number of pounds they import each quarter.
“Despite all the external challenges this FIP has faced, we’ve never changed our ultimate objectives,” said O2 Founder and CEO Rich Lincoln. “We have dedicated companies supporting the work and experts on the ground executing it. Continuing this contract keeps us on track to seeing the best science-based strategies driving Red Crab fisheries management in the Fujian region”
The status of the Fujian Zhangzhou Red Crab FIP is updated biannually on fisheryprogress.org.
July 12, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:
The National Fisheries Institute is pleased that the President’s Executive Order on competition and the economy directs the Federal Maritime Commission to, “vigorously enforce the prohibition of unjust and unreasonable practices in the context of detention and demurrage.”
We believe deeply in a free market economy but this year alone we expect seafood companies to incur an estimated $88 million in extra port-related costs, an amount 20 times higher than last year. Skyrocketing detention and demurrage charges coupled with untenable delays is not about economics and competition it’s about a problem in the supply chain that needs to be addressed.
July 6, 2021 — The Bering Sea TAC for pollock has been ratcheted back to 1.375 million metric tons — that’s down from last year’s 1.425 million and close to what it was set at in 2019. In the Aleutian Islands harvest area, the quota has been set at 19,000 metric tons, unchanged from last year. For the Gulf of Alaska waters, the TAC fell from the 115,930 metric tons to 113,227 metric tons for 2021.
In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the purchase of $159.4 million in domestic seafood and agricultural products. Of that, seafood will account for $70.9 million. Alaska pollock products have always been high on the list of purchases by the USDA for school lunch and other institutional food programs, and pollock contracts in 2021 will tally up to $20 million.
Also in May, data released by the National Fisheries Institute indicated that pollock pulled ahead of tilapia to rank fourth place in domestic seafood consumption. Though shrimp, salmon and canned tuna continue to rank above pollock, NFI noted that consumption of pollock products increased by a quarter pound per capita from 2018 to 2019. Meanwhile, the NFI research conducted for the Seattle-based Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers found that wild Alaska pollock products comprised 86 percent of that national increase from 2018 to 2019.