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SeaWeb to Honor and Inspire Industry Leaders at the International Boston Seafood Show

Bethany Versoy

SeaWeb's Seafood Choices is presenting its 2010 Seafood Champion Awards and organizing two panels at the upcoming International Boston Seafood Show (IBSS). This year, an estimated 16,000 buyers and sellers and more than 800 exhibitors from more than 90 countries will gather in Boston for what has become North America's largest seafood event..

Organizing conference sessions featuring forward-looking leaders in the industry and presenting the annual Seafood Champion Awards offers SeaWeb’s Seafood Choices multiple opportunities to highlight sustainable business practices, connect with key supporters and engage new industry stakeholders.

2010 Seafood Champion Awards Reception

First presented in 2006, the Seafood Champion Awards recognize outstanding leadership on the issue of seafood sustainability. Seafood Champion Awards have been bestowed upon winners who include individuals, companies and organizations from the fishing, aquaculture, seafood supply and distribution, retail, media, restaurant and foodservice sectors. Winners of this award have influenced the marketplace with regard to the sourcing of eco-friendly seafood while successfully integrating seafood sustainability into the industry. This year's finalists are: Anova Seafood BV, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines–Inflight Services, CeDePesca, Pollock Conservation Cooperative, REJOPRAO, Helene York, WiLDCOAST/COSTASALVAjE, The Co-operative, Overwaitea Food Group and Howard M. Johnson.

See who will be named a Seafood Champion at the Seafood Champion Awards Reception, Sunday, March 14, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Otis Room at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, Boston, MA.

Ocean Acidification: Cutting Through the Complexity and Impacts on the Seafood Industry

Ocean acidification is an issue members of the media are covering more and more, and one of interest among conservationists and consumers alike. Consequently, the seafood industry is looking for ways to educate themselves, share knowledge and gain traction on this issue. Many of the world's largest companies seek to better understand and confront these large environmental problems in hopes that they can mitigate any negative effects on business. This introductory session will highlight the current science on ocean acidification, discuss the projected effects on the global seafood industry and explore how stakeholders can use their collective influence and support to encourage positive change. Panelists will also discuss how some of the biggest companies in America are investing in procurement policy reforms and improved energy and environmental technologies to prepare for what they see as a huge global market shift toward sustainability.

The session will be held Sunday, March 14, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., in Room 151B at the Boston Conference and Exhibition Center, Boston, MA. Organized by Seafood Choices, the panel will be moderated by Ned Daly, North American Director, Seafood Choices Alliance and feature: Sebastian Belle, Standards Consultant, Global Aquaculture Alliance; Scott C. Doney, Senior Scientist, Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; and Jon Rowley, Marketing, Taylor Shellfish Farms, Inc.

FMI Sustainable Seafood Working Group Roundtable Discussion

Join representatives of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Sustainable Seafood Working Group in a roundtable discussion on the status of what the group is currently addressing and what sustainability issues they see around the corner. FMI created the SSWG to better understand and address the concerns their members have about seafood sustainability issues. The Sustainable Seafood Working Group is comprised of executives from twenty-two leading retailers working in partnership with nongovernmental organizations, suppliers, government agencies and accrediting bodies to develop case studies, guidelines and educational tools for the industry. The Sustainable Seafood Working Group identifies and prioritizes sustainability issues that can be resolved on an industry-wide basis.

The session will be Monday, March 15, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., in Room 153BC at the Boston Conference and Exhibition Center, Boston, MA. The moderator is Fiona Robinson, Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher, SeaFood Business, and the panelists are: Richard Castle, Giant Eagle; Shawn McMurter, Sobeys; Tracy Taylor, Ahold: and Jeanne von Zastrow, FMI.

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