SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [Seafoodnews.com] — November 4, 2013 — Kerry Coughlin, America's regional director for the MSC, has resigned. She will be leaving her position at the end of November to "pursue new opportunities" and will continue to work with MSC on a consulting basis, according to an email sent to Tom Seaman, Editor of Undercurrent News.
The MSC is advertising her positon on their website, in a job posting prepared in October of this year. The deadline for applying is Nov. 25th. Interviews will be held in Washington DC on December 4th and 5th.
Her resignation comes little more than a month after she sent a public letter attacking ASMI's efforts to choose a different certification program. In the same letter she also attacked the portrayal of MSC on Seafood.com News, and she attacked Alaskan Senators Begich and Murkowski, as well as Alaskan state officials. "The September 24 U.S. Senate Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee hearing on sustainable seafood certification is a recent and particularly egregious example of biased and inaccurate discussion of the MSC program" said Coughlin.
The spectacle of a London-based NGO attacking US Senators, other government officials, and ASMI was not a supportable position.
This has been a difficult year for the MSC in the U.S. as two major partners – Wal-Mart and Sodexo – were called before a Congressional committee after following advice to limit their purchase of Alaskan salmon due to the fact that 80% of the salmon produced in Alaska is no longer part of the MSC program. Both companies pledged to revise their sourcing policies to ensure continued purchase of Alaskan salmon.
Furthermore, the National Park Service, and the General Services Administration, also had to renouce efforts to get their seafood vendors to use MSC certified products. As a result, the fact that sustainable seafood was not synonymous with the MSC certification became a widely shared view in Washington, and among key buyers. The case for using equivalent programs was strengthened.
Neutral observers have told us that the clash over certification standards for Alaska salmon between ASMI and the MSC has been exacerbated by personality conflicts.
Coughlin took her current position as director for the Americas in 2009, following two years as MSC America's communications director. Prior to that, she had not had experience in the seafood industry.
In their job posting, the MSC says that among the personal requirements for the position will be "extensive knowledge of the North American seafood and fishing industries, sustainable seafood movement/ NGO sector, with existing contacts and networks highly desirable"
A key task for the position will be "building and maintaining excellent relationships with key stakeholders at all levels within the region and across MSC’s stakeholder community (including within the seafood industry, from harvest through to retail, governments, conservation NGOs and other engaged stakeholders)."
They also require that the candidate have "empathy" for market based sustainability programs, but they do not require prior experience in such programs.
The job description can be found here.
In the email, Rupert Howes, CEO of the MSC, said “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kerry for six years of dedicated service to the MSC and for her significant contribution over that period. She has done an outstanding job. We appreciate that Kerry will continue to work with MSC’s Board, myself and senior managers to facilitate a smooth transition as we move forward to recruit a new Regional Director for the Americas.”
Coughlin said, in the same emailed statement, “it has been a privilege to work with MSC and our many partners. The MSC program has experienced tremendous growth during my tenure and I expect will continue to expand in importance as a vital global link for members of the industry and marine conservation community seeking to ensure sustainability of the world’s seafood resources.”
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.