The MarineStewardship Council (MSC) has appointed Brian Perkins, a former commercial
fisherman and international seafood trade show executive, as Regional Director
Americas. This appointment is part of a new strategy to continue to expand the
MSC’s presence in the Americas and increase availability of MSC certified
sustainable seafood across the region.
Mr Perkins will be based in Washington DC at a new office location that will serve as the MSC’s Americas region headquarters. The MSC’s Seattle office will be retained as its USA headquarters.
Visit the MSC website HERE.
(IAF 1501)
Mr Perkins
joined the MSC’s senior management team on January 5th. He will work
alongside the organization’s Chief Executive, Rupert Howes and Global
Commercial Director, Nicolas Guichoux. Mr Perkins will also work closely with
industry and the conservation community to recognize and encourage sustainable
fishing practices that support healthy marine ecosystems.
Mr Perkins will be based in Washington DC at a new office location that will serve as the MSC’s Americas region headquarters. The MSC’s Seattle office will be retained as its USA headquarters.
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the Marine Stewardship Council, said: “I
am delighted to welcome Brian, who joins the MSC as our first Regional Director
for the Americas under a revised and newly implemented regional
structure. Brian has a unique blend of skills and experience that will
enable him to lead the team in their drive to add value to partners. He brings
a wealth of knowledge, which will help us to expand both the supply and demand
of certified sustainable and fully traceable seafood throughout the region. I
am very much looking forward to working with Brian over the coming years.”
Globally, more
than 245 fisheries are certified as sustainable against the MSC’s robust
standard for environmentally sustainable fishing. These fisheries meet strict science-based
criteria for sustainability so that the MSC ecolabel can be displayed on their
products, assuring consumers that they are purchasing seafood from a
sustainable source. Together they are responsible for around 10 percent of
annual global harvest of wild-capture fisheries.
Around half (53
percent) of fisheries in the USA and two thirds (62 percent) of Canadian
fisheries are engaged with the MSC program. Together these fisheries account
for 3.2 million metric tonnes of seafood caught every year. A further 370,000
metric tonnes originate from fisheries engaged with the MSC program in Latin
America.
Mr Perkins has
worked within the seafood industry for more than 40 years. He started at a salt
fish factory in Iceland and went on to become Executive Vice President and COO
of Diversified Business Communications, organizer of Seafood Expo North
America/Seafood Processing North America and Seafood Expo Global/Seafood
Processing Global. During his 16-year career at Diversified, Mr Perkins oversaw
18 seafood trade shows focusing on areas including seafood processing,
commercial fishing, ethnic food and organic products. He was instrumental in
launching and managing new expositions in Europe, Singapore and San Francisco
and provided counsel on strategic direction for the company. He was also
responsible for industry publications, National Fisherman, Seafood Business and
WorkBoat.
Brian Perkins, Regional Director Americas, added: “Working for the MSC is a
great opportunity to make a difference within an industry which has been such a
big part of my life. I join the team at an exciting time and look forward to
working with fisheries, commercial partners and conservation organizations. The
MSC team has established the gold standard for third party certification of
wild fisheries and I believe that continued growth of the program will bring
both environmental and socio-economic benefits to the Americas.”
In his position
as Regional Director Americas, and as part of an internal restructure of MSC’s
Americas region to focus more deeply on specific geographies, Brian will
oversee Program Directors and their teams in the United States, Canada, and
Latin America. In the United States, Geoff Bolan, located in Seattle,
Washington State, was recently appointed Program Director USA. Jay Lugar,
located in Halifax, Canada has been named Program Director Canada. The MSC
plans to recruit for the Program Director Latin America position in
2015-16.
Visit the MSC website HERE.
(IAF 1501)
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