Happy holidays from Sea Pact! As we approach the end of 2021, we wanted to share that this time also marks the end of Rob Johnson’s five-year tenure as the Managing Director of Sea Pact.

Since coming on board with Sea Pact in 2016, our ten member companies have come to know and value Rob for his knowledge and experience in the NGO community, as well as his commitment to driving continuous improvement of our fisheries. As Managing Director, Rob showed dedication, hard work, and professionalism as a representative of Sea Pact. He was our biggest cheerleader in encouraging precompetitive collaboration in the seafood industry.

Rob played an integral role in the development and growth of Sea Pact, especially in building relationships and securing outside funding. With Rob’s direction, we have been able to distribute the funding to support projects aligned with our mission. He made us proud when Sea Pact became part of the Conservation Alliance and Rob was an incredible representative on countless conference panels around the world. In the midst of the seafood industry’s COVID-19 struggles, Rob was at the helm of Sea Pact, organizing weekly virtual check-in meetings where each member shared their experiences and best practices to challenges our companies were facing.

​We are very appreciative of Rob’s hard work leading Sea Pact over the past five years and he will be missed. We wish him the greatest happiness and success in his future.

Location: Work from Home Office, preferably in the United States 

The Position
The Executive Director will be the key management leader of Sea Pact and will be responsible for overseeing the administration, programs, and strategic plan of the organization.

Working closely with Sea Pact’s Member Representatives, key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
• Planning and Partnering
• Program Development and Management
• Member Relations
• External Relations
• Fundraising and Budget Management

Learn more about the role in greater detail here.

The 2021 Landscape Review of Sustainable Seafood Precompetitive Collaborations builds on the 2018 Seafood Metrics Report Supplement on Industry Engagement Platforms by surveying 16 precompetitive platforms in the sustainable seafood movement. By capturing information from public websites and key informant interviews with platform leaders, this report aims to elevate the seafood market community’s understanding of the precompetitive collaboration landscape.
For the context of this report, a precompetitive collaboration involves industry competitors working together to share best practices within or across seafood commodities, collaborating on shared challenges, and taking collective action to drive change in seafood sustainability.
The report, authored by CEA Consulting and commissioned by the Sustainable Seafood Funders’ Group, a joint initiative of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation, seeks to highlight key data insights, emergent trends, and best practices of the evolving precompetitive collaboration landscape.

Key findings include:

• Four types of platform archetypes (knowledge-sharing entities, commitment-oriented platforms, scientific research bodies, and project funders) have emerged and reflect differing priorities, types of members, levels of supply chain engagement, and monitoring and reporting activities.
• Almost 400 companies are engaged in 16 precompetitive collaborations, up from about 250 engaged in 12 platforms in 2018. 28% of companies participate in more than one platform.
• 15% of companies participating in precompetitive collaborations also have 1-on-1 partnerships with Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions NGOs. 40% of companies with 1-on-1 NGO partnerships also participate in precompetitive collaborations.
• 80% of platforms are structured around some type of time-bound or open-ended commitment for members to work toward, and almost all platforms collectively engage in government advocacy.
• Platforms have several different funding models, the most common of which is receiving both philanthropic and industry financial support. Over 60% of platforms receive some amount of philanthropic financial support,

If you have any questions or feedback about the report, please contact Sydney Sanders of CEA Consulting at sydney@ceaconsulting.com.

Recently, the Alliance was invited by SeafoodSource to present at its Seafood 2030 Virtual Sustainability Forum. We were joined at the event by select Alliance Board members and partners to talk about our collective mission to transform seafood supply chains. 
During the session we discussed the exciting turning-point we are at in the history of the Alliance: after 12 years of hard work, we have helped advance the sustainable seafood movement such that we are now on the cusp of having a critical mass of companies in the US and EU adopting more sustainable and responsible practices, ultimately making it the norm for doing business. 
For example, we know that by value, about 80% of the top 25 US retailers are partnered with Alliance Global Hub members and have made sustainable seafood commitments, along with 80% of the top 9 Canadian retailers, and 70% of the top 10 EU retailers. Plus, there are over 140 FIPs (fishery improvement projects), around the world today, representing 9% of the global catch, while more than 150 seafood companies are engaged in pre-competitive platforms.
Our ambitions, however, are greater than our achievements. 
We have more work to do. Our 10-year target is that by 2030, at least 75% of global production is environmentally sustainable or making verifiable improvement and safeguards are in place to ensure social responsibility. Last year we launched a new strategy and community model to help make it happen. 
Since we know the movement has been through a rapid expansion of groups and tools, our strategy has us fostering alignment in priority work areas, amplifying critical work and resources from the Global Hub, and measuring our shared progress along the way to create clarity and focus in the movement. To support these efforts, we are evolving to become a more inclusive, global, cross-sector community, so that in the Global Hub, we can engage with the full spectrum of stakeholders critical to this movement. 
What does participating in the Global Hub look like? Rob Johnson is Managing Director of Sea Pact (an NGO formed by a group of seafood companies), a member of our newly minted Alliance Advisory Council, and long-time member of our community. As he puts it, “the scope and urgency of the issues requires collaboration to get the durability needed to transform the industry and bring it to a more viable and sustainable place. [The Global Hub is] a dynamic space that is changing and effectively building the awareness and capacity needed for transformational change.”
During the session, John V. Young, Vice President of Operations at Euclid Fish Company, echoed Rob’s sentiments, sharing, “the heaving lifting needs to be done together. The Global Hub helps me understand and wade through fisheries management changes and other updates…so we can use that information to educate our consumers.”
Today we are excited to share that the recording of that event is now available for those who were unable to make it live and would like to catch up. 
These days, our team is busily preparing for our own virtual event: the Alliance Annual Meeting, coming up November 15-18. This event convenes leaders and international experts from across the sustainable seafood movement in a series of dynamic sessions and workshops. Last year we hosted 20+ hours of content for 400+ attendees from throughout the responsible seafood industry, including NGOs, seafood companies, academia, and human rights and other experts.
To get involved in the conversation or learn more about what we do here at the Alliance, we invite you to join us at our Virtual Annual Meeting by clicking here. And, for more information about joining the Global Hub, click here.

​Recently, the Alliance was invited by SeafoodSource to present at its Seafood 2030 Virtual Sustainability Forum. We were joined at the event by select Alliance Board members and partners to talk about our collective mission to transform seafood supply chains. 

Special thanks to our speakers:
Cecilia Blasco
Indrani Lutchman
Rob Johnson
John V Young
Steve Waddell
Jack Kittinger

Catch up here!

https://solutionsforseafood.org/news/collaboration-is-our-path-forward/

We’re excited to welcome Perry Broderick as a sustainability consultant to Sea Pact’s Advisory Board! As Communications and Systems director for Ocean Outcomes, Perry not only provides us with a connection to an innovative organization, but he also brings a unique set of talents and experiences to our work.
As one of the founding members of Ocean Outcomes, Perry has played a leading role across the landscape of sustainable seafood over the past decade. Prior to the launch of Ocean Outcomes in 2015, Perry worked with the Wild Salmon Center on sustainable salmon fishery initiatives across the Pacific Rim.
Perry also works hard to keep himself firmly rooted in local fisheries. As a second-generation Bristol Bay fisherman, Perry is tuned into the benefits a well-managed fishery can bring.  Endless mid-summer days spent working the rich waters of Nushagak Bay with his family serve as an annual reminder that sustainability brings more than economic stability – well-run fisheries also help us engage with the natural world and connect with tradition, culture, and history.
Responsible, science-based management also preserves the resource for the next generation. A keen reminder as Perry and his wife welcome their first child in May – probably a little early to start fishing this season, but next summer he is looking forward to breaking in the new Bristol Bay recruit!
Perry’s dream of a sustainable future echoes Ocean Outcomes’ vision of “...healthy aquatic ecosystems, a plentiful and profitable wild seafood supply, and thriving fishing communities.” How do we get there? Perry thinks it looks something like this:

• Global fisheries transformed by science-based management policies that are effectively enforced
• Equitable access to resources for all people
• Gradual transition to a less impactful diet of more seafood and plants

At Sea Pact we’re focused on a similar vision, and we look forward to continued collaboration to get us there!
Learn more about the work Perry and the crew at Ocean Outcomes do at: www.oceanoutcomes.org

Perry also offered a great book recommendation. Pick up a copy of Ian Urbina’s The Outlaw Ocean, which Perry suggests as a “rigorous and academic approach” to uncovering many of the ocean-focused issues we are working to address.

“In this utterly groundbreaking, often disturbing book, Ian Urbina has put his life on the line to lay bare the stunning inhumanity that reigns unchecked over two-thirds of Earth’s surface. This constantly astonishing book is seasoned with rare heroes—the author himself among them—who at great risk have weaponized their lifelong quest to shine righteous light and apply justice to the cruel anarchy that reigns over the majority of the planet.”
—Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words and Song for the Blue Ocean

(Indre Kvarøy, Norway; March 15, 2021)—On March 18, Kvarøy Arctic joins Chef Andrew Zimmern and 30 thought leaders for a private virtual aquaculture dinner as part of SXSW Online, the virtual version of Austin’s acclaimed in-person gathering of film, interactive media, music, climate activism, and more. Hosted on the heels of a lively and informative public panel discussion on March 16 entitled “Aquaculture, Food Systems and Climate Change,” the March 18 dinner will offer a taste of Kvarøy Arctic salmon and Riverence trout as well as an opportunity for guests to connect and have impactful conversation about aquaculture’s role in combating climate change.

SXSW passholders are invited to reserve a spot for the panel discussion, which will include a live Q&A, hosted within the “Climate and Social Action” schedule of events with guest speakers:

• Andrew Zimmern, Chef and CEO of Food Works, Inc.
• David E. Kelley, Riverence Founder and TV Writer & Producer
• Alexandra Cousteau, Explorer, Ocean Advocate, and President & Co-Founder of Oceans 2050
• Sarah Redmond, Organic Seaweed Farmer from Springtide Seaweed

Speakers will discuss aquaculture as a powerful force for ecological and social good as the world’s fastest growing food production system. Topics explored will also center on aquaculture’s ability to combat the global climate crisis, the global health crisis, and the challenges humanity faces as the global food system is transformed.

Continuing the conversation in a more intimate and interactive setting, Kvarøy Arctic invited a list of 30 thought leaders to participate in a private virtual dinner on March 18 catered by Bravo: Top Chef “Fan Favorite” Chef and Restaurateur Fabio Viviani. The guest list includes aquaculture industry professionals from various sectors (feed, farming, distributors and technology partners), as well as journalists, ocean activists, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs. The attendees are senior members of companies including: Aquabyte, Aspen Institute, Bloomin’ Brands, CBS News, Compass Group, The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute, Corbion, Eater.com, Euclid Fish, Global Aquaculture Alliance, The Hollywood Reporter, KeHe, Los Angeles Times, Seafood Source, Seattle Fish, San Francisco Chronicle, Santa Monica Seafood, Stavis Seafood, and others.

The dinner will open with remarks from the panelists before guests are welcomed into more intimate discussion groups. All attendees will receive a meal kit and recipe cards prior to the event featuring sustainably raised fish paired with Cobb wines, which they can prepare to enjoy during the conversation:

Lightly Roasted Riverence Trout
with rosemary & olive oil focaccia bread and dill tzatziki Paired with: 2018 H. Klopp Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast


Kvarøy Arctic Salmon Poké
with chilies, soy glaze, green onions, and whipped cauliflower purée Paired with: 2016 Coastlands, Old Firs Block Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast


Espresso and Caramel Tiramisu, White Chocolate Crunch


“SXSW has immense potential as a platform to educate and inform the opinions of the thought leaders, policymakers, and writers who wield the power to reshape public opinion on aquaculture and move the industry forward,” says Kvarøy Arctic Strategic Development Officer Jennifer Bushman. “This year, fish and seafood will be brought center stage with a featured panel of experts and dinner with the best minds in the industry, all focused on the future of aquaculture and the strength we have to make a positive impact on economies, the environment, and our global food system. We are grateful to have the support of all those participating in these events, and to Seapact for their support in getting this conversation to this important stage.”


To register for the SXSW panel, visit SXSW Online.


About Kvarøy Arctic
Kvarøy Arctic is a third-generation Atlantic salmon farm on the Island of Kvarøy along Norway’s Arctic Circle. Led by CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen, Production Manager Gjermund Olsen, and Operations Manager Håvard Olsen, the Kvarøy Arctic team is ushering in a new era of sustainability for salmon farming as a net producer of fish protein with a commitment to traceability and transparency through IBM blockchain technology.


Kvarøy Arctic is the first farmed finfish to carry the Fair Trade USA seal, and is BAP, ASC and Global G.A.P. certified. The salmon has the merroir of Norway’s cold, clear waters with delicate marine flavors and slight brininess. It is one of a small number of farm-raised fish certified by the American Heart Association’s® Heart-Check program. Kvarøy Arctic is actively expanding its U.S. retail presence. It is currently available through Pod Foods, at restaurants, for direct delivery on FultonFishMarket.com, and at retail through select retailers like Cherry Hill Market, Cox Farms Market, Acorn Acres, and Whole Foods Market U.S. locations.


Learn about the heritage of Kvarøy Arctic by visiting www.KvaroyArctic.com, Instagram @kvaroyarctic, Facebook @KvaroyArctic, and Twitter @KvaroyArctic, and use #TasteTheArctic.

​Sea Pact members will be presenting Prioritizing Responsible Seafood in Uncertain Times at the digital seafood conference for North America, @Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America Reconnect  March 15-19. If you have an interest in exploring the challenges of economic, social and environmental sustainability throughout COVID-19, make sure to attend this session. You can learn more about the event at https://bit.ly/3iWfaEy #SENA21
I hope you’ll join me online for @Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America Reconnect - where Sea Pact members will be speaking on March 16! Sea Pact is honored to be chosen to be a part of this new and exciting digital conference that provides seafood buyers, suppliers and stakeholders a platform for in depth industry content, emerging trends and networking. We hope to see you there! https://bit.ly/3iWfaEy  #SENA21

Event website | seafoodexpo.com/north-america-reconnect
Event Twitter handle | @SeafoodExpo_NA
Event Facebook page | Seafood Expo North America| @seafoodexponorthamerica

Aquaculture, Food Systems and Climate Change is a Featured Session on March 16 at SXSW Online: March 16-20, 2021.
Food is simply the biggest lever we have to combat climate change and improve the health and wellbeing of the planet’s growing population. Aquaculture, the farming of aquatic animals and plants, is vital as the planet’s fastest growing food production system. Seafood is one of the healthiest proteins to consume and one of the most efficient and sustainable to produce. Done well, aquaculture can be a powerful force for ecological and social good. The moderated panel of experts will discuss aquaculture’s key role. Join award-winning ocean activist Alexandra Cousteau; four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality and chef Andrew Zimmern; multi award-winning writer and producer David E. Kelley; and organic seaweed farmer and entrepreneur Sarah Redmond to explore the context of the global climate crisis and aquaculture’s key role in transforming our food systems.