Ocean Stewards 2008 Board of Directors Reflect Open Ocean Breadth, Depth
The Ocean Stewards Institute announced that its first Board of Directors has been elected by membership to guide the trade organization through the next critical year. The newly elected Board consists of Brian O’Hanlon, President of Snapperfarm; Neil Anthony Sims, President of Kona Blue Water Farms; Patricia Parisi, Communications Manager of King’s Seafood Company; Chris Beattie, Product Manager of Skretting; Sean O’Scannlain, President and CEO of Fortune Fish Company; and David Tze, Managing Director of Aquacopia Capital Management.
“The representation of the Board truly shows the scope of the emerging industry, which is a key strength of the Ocean Stewards,” said Neil Anthony Sims, Founding Board member. “The full breadth and depth of open ocean aquaculture is represented, including fish farmers, investor groups, feed companies, distributors and restaurateurs, which will allow for building greater coordination within our constituency.”
The Board will direct the Ocean Stewards Institute in its mission to promote wider recognition and support for sustainable open ocean aquaculture in the Americas. The three areas of emphasis for the Ocean Stewards in this coming year will be:
• Continuing advocacy for U.S. Federal legislation to establish consistent, nationwide regulations and provide research funding to guide the growth of offshore aquaculture in U.S. EEZ waters
• Furthering the process of establishing rigorous standards for sustainability certification for open ocean aquaculture operations, and
• Building stronger awareness amongst consumers and communities of the environmental, economic, and public health imperatives for considered, rational development of open ocean aquaculture.
The Ocean Stewards Institute maintains that environmentally sound open ocean aquaculture offers a potential solution to the critical need for increasing the consistency and quality of seafood supplies, without increasing pressure on ocean fisheries. Sims said, “Each of our talented Board members is dedicated to building a broad coalition of support for the development of a sustainable, environmentally sound offshore industry.”
