Saving Seafood

Scholarship Program Opened Today for National Seafood Council Task Force

July 16, 2021 — The following was released by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership:

The National Seafood Council Task Force, with the support from the Walton Family Foundation, is announcing the launch of a scholarship program to open up more opportunities for small- and medium-sized seafood businesses to participate in this important initiative to develop a holistic consumer marketing and education campaign. To be representative of the entire seafood supply chain, the Task Force is seeking nominations for seafood business leaders whose annual company revenue is less than $20 million.

Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is incubating the National Seafood Council (NSC) and launched the National Seafood Council Task Force in April 2020 to provide advice and input into the formation of a NSC. As recommended by NOAA’s MAFAC, an industry-led, federally-supported NSC will help build a more resilient seafood sector, improve public health, and foster a healthier planet. The NSC will establish one unified voice for the seafood industry at a time when it is needed most.

More than 60 seafood organizations ask Congress to resurrect National Seafood Council

May 5, 2021 — More than 60 leading seafood organizations have signed a letter to congress to support appropriations to resurrect the National Seafood Council in the United States.

The letter has been delivered to members of Congress, with a request that appropriations  be made to support a national seafood marketing campaign, as recommended by NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Council (MAFAC). The initial request is for USD 25 million (EUR 20.8 million) to fund the marketing efforts, according to the Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP).

Read the full story at Seafood Source

60+ Leading Seafood Orgs Support National Seafood Campaign

May 5, 2021 — The following was released by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership:

More than 60 leading organizations in the nation’s diverse seafood community sent a letter to Congress today to support a comprehensive, nationwide seafood marketing and public education campaign as recommended by NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Council (MAFAC) in July 2020.

Seafood is the healthiest, most environmentally sustainable form of animal protein production on the planet, but Americans are not eating nearly enough for optimal health as outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. An unprecedented public education campaign, with initial support from the federal government, is needed to inspire a shift in consumer behavior and to measurably increase American seafood consumption from the current 16 lbs. to 26 lbs. per capita, which is the recommended two servings per week. To support this campaign, the letter to Congress requests an initial appropriation for $25 million.

The full press release is available online, along with the letters sent to the House and Senate.

SNP Announces New Board Leadership, New Member from H-E-B

January 11, 2021 — The following was released by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership:

Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is pleased to announce new leadership of its Board of Directors with the appointment of Jim Motos of Rich Products Corp. as the Chair of the Board and Paul Doremus of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the Vice Chair. Steve Hart of Global Aquaculture Alliance will move to Immediate Past Chair and Judson Reis, formerly of Gorton’s Inc., will remain as Treasurer. The Board welcomes Jason Driskill, Senior Director of Seafood for Texas-based retailer H-E-B.

Full press release can be found here 

New Dietary Guidelines Recommends Moms & Kids Eat More Seafood for Brain Health

December 29, 2020 — The following was released by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership:

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 was unveiled today. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide science-based advice on what to eat and drink to promote health, reduce risk of chronic disease, and meet nutrient needs. This ninth edition is the first time guidance is given for infants and toddlers under age 2, and the recommendations are that seafood is important for children’s brain development.

“Seafood intake during pregnancy is recommended, as it is associated with favorable measures of cognitive development in young children.” Starting at about 6 months of age, the DGA says to introduce iron- and zinc-rich foods, such as fish and shellfish. Seafood is an important source of “iron, zinc, protein, choline, and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids … needed for the rapid brain development that occurs through the infant’s first 2 years of life,” states the DGA. “Some types of fish such as salmon and trout are also natural sources of vitamin D.”

This follows the findings from the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report, released in July 2020, that emphasized the need for women before, during and after pregnancy, and children beginning at 6 months of age to eat more seafood.

For the women and the general public, the seafood consumption recommendations remain the same as from the previous DGA 2015-2020 of 8 to 12 ounces per week, now based on daily caloric intake.

Read the full release here

SNP Celebrates GivingTuesday with Month of Thanks

November 17, 2020 — The following was released by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership:

Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is responding to meet the needs of helping Americans stay healthy with seafood and driving demand to the U.S. seafood community through the Eat Seafood America! campaign. As a 501(c)3 non-profit reliant on public donations, SNP is asking everyone that is able to make a tax-deductible donation in honor of GivingTuesday, December 1, 2020.

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on December 1, 2020, and throughout the year. Seafood Nutrition Partnership has set a goal of raising $25,000 by December 1, 2020.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the global GivingTuesday movement and highlighting the work of Seafood Nutrition Partnership through this campaign,” said Linda Cornish, President of Seafood Nutrition Partnership. “Donations support SNP’s work to further advances and awareness in seafood nutrition science, educate health and nutrition influencers, and reach consumers through Eat Seafood America! campaign.

“We can’t do this important work without all of our donors. Please join us on this global day of giving!”

Join Linda Cornish live on SNP’s Instagram channel @Seafood4Health at 2 pm ET Tuesday, December 1 for our first Insta-thon!

For the weeks leading up to GivingTuesday, SNP is celebrating with a Month of Thanks, honoring those who have helped us and all Americans get through a tough year, including the restaurants and grocery stores that have nourished and provided sustenance for us.

SNP is sharing ways you can express generosity right from your own home:

  • Thank Restaurants. Order seafood meals from you favorite restaurants, post a photo of your meals and add #eatseafoodamerica #thankyourestaurants.
  • Thank Grocery Stores. Make a seafood meal, post a photo of your meal and add #eatseafoodamerica #thankyougrocers
  • Thank Fishermen and Seafood Farmers. Plan to make a seafood dish for Thanksgiving and add #eatseafoodamerica #thanksgiving.

Read the full release here

Northern Lights: Eat Seafood, America!

October 5, 2020 — “Eat Seafood, America!” is the driving message of an effort aimed at helping Americans stay healthy during this covid-19 public health crisis as well as boosting the U.S. seafood economy, supporting the 2 million American workers in the seafood industry.

This rapid-response initiative launched in early April has been successful in encouraging consumers to eat more fish and shellfish. Of consumers surveyed in June and July, those who reported seeing the Eat Seafood, America! messaging were three times more likely to have increased their seafood consumption in the last two months.

Supported by the newly formed Seafood4Health Action Coalition of more than 46 organizations (full list is available at eatseafoodamerica.com), convened by Seafood Nutrition Partnership, this unified consumer outreach campaign works to help Americans build habits to eat more sustainable seafood. In the first four months, the integrated consumer outreach campaign earned nearly 300 million potential impressions.

Read the full opinion piece at National Fisherman

Red Lobster’s Chief Supply Chain Officer Joins SNP Board

September 9, 2020 — The following was released by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership:

The Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is pleased to announce Nelson Griffin of Red Lobster® is joining its Board of Directors. Griffin, a veteran of foodservice and consumer package good procurement and supply chain management, brings a wealth of experience and thought leadership to SNP as it strengthens its outreach to encourage even more Americans to eat sustainable seafood for better health through consumer-facing campaigns such as Eat Seafood, America!

Griffin is Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Red Lobster, the world’s largest casual dining seafood restaurant company, based in Orlando, Florida. In his current role, he is responsible for leading all the supply chain related activities, which includes over $900MM of food, beverages, all supplies including kitchen equipment, product distribution and travel services for more than 700 restaurants around the world. In addition, he oversees the Total Quality department that is responsible for food safety, product quality and restaurant inspections.

“I am honored to join the Seafood Nutrition Partnership Board of Directors,” Griffin said. “I admire and respect the diverse Board and the important work the organization is doing to help move the needle on seafood consumption in the U.S.”

Prior to joining Red Lobster, Griffin served in several roles at Darden Restaurants, Inc., most recently as Vice President of Supply Chain. Previously, he was Director of Strategic Procurement for Kellogg’s and served in a variety of roles for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

“We are thrilled to have Nelson join the Board,” SNP Board Chair Steve Hart said. “He brings decades of experience in supply chain best practices that will provide great direction for the future of SNP, and he believes in the importance of bringing healthy sustainable seafood to consumers.”

Read the full release here

Eat Seafood America! campaigns boosts consumption

August 28, 2020 — Americans are eating more seafood and cooking it more often at home, thanks in part to a nationwide campaign rolled out in early April.

The rapid-response Eat Seafood America! campaign, led by Seafood Nutrition Partnership and the Seafood4Health Coalition, was launched to help Americans stay healthy during the COVID-19 public health crisis as well as help boost the U.S. seafood economy, SNP said in a press release.

Read the full story at Seafood Source