Fortune Fish & Gourmet president & CEO Sean O’Scannlain has been announced as the new chairman of the USA’s National Fisheries Institute (NFI).
A 22-year veteran of the industry, Mr O’Scannlain has been a member of NFI since 2002 and has served in a variety of executive positions, including vice chairman, treasurer, and chairman of FishPAC, the organisation’s political action committee.
In his new role as chairman, Mr O’Scannlain will focus on seafood nutrition education, promoting domestic aquaculture opportunities, reducing seafood fraud, marketplace labelling and working closely with legislators and regulators on strategic seafood issues.
“It’s important that we get the word out about American’s Omega-3 deficiency,” he says. “Our government’s own dietary guidelines tell you – American’s simply do not eat enough seafood. When people are eating more than 100 pounds of red meat per capita annually, 48 pounds of chicken and less than 15 pounds of seafood, there’s a real imbalance there.”
Mr O’Scannlain has also identified aquaculture as a growing area of importance for NFI and its members. Promoting domestically-grown seafood will be a priority.
“Wild fisheries have been well-managed, but they are not an area for growth. Growth will need to come from the aquaculture sector, especially domestic sources, and I want to do what I can to promote it as a great source of high quality seafood,” he says.
NFI president John Connelly praised outgoing chair Chris Lischewski for his service and continued commitment.
