In late September, Derek Figueroa, CEO & President of Seattle Fish Co. and Chairman of the National Fisheries Institute, and Savanna Ronco, Marketing Coordinator, along with more than 100 seafood industry executives from across the country returned to Washington, D.C. for NFI’s political conference. This group gathered for the first time in-person since 2019 to connect with Members of Congress, federal agencies and embassies to discuss issues impacting the seafood industry.
“The future of the seafood industry lies in the hands of today’s leaders,” said Figueroa. “As American businesses continue to rebuild and navigate this unparalleled time, it’s critical that the seafood community engage with policy makers. As an industry, we must speak with one collective voice to inform and educate Members of Congress and the Administration about the impact their policies have on our day-to-day operations and on our industry as a whole.”
“The NFI Political Conference allows members to help shape the future of the seafood industry,” said John Connelly, president of the National Fisheries Institute. “We appreciate the seafood executives who came to Washington, DC to share their stories. They truly understand if you don’t take a seat at the table you’re often on the plate.”
One of Seattle Fish Company’s core values is customer. We think of our customers first and make decisions with the customer in mind. It is for this reason that we differentiate ourselves by providing industry leadership, positioning ourselves as thought leaders and influencers. When we attend conferences like NFI’s political conference, we represent you, our customers, and advocate for your needs and the needs of the seafood industry as a whole.
There were many important issues discussed at the four-day conference, which was held at the Intercontinental Wharf Hotel in D.C., just steps from Capitol Hill. Amongst them were port congestion, which is an issue for many industries recently, the nation-wide labor shortage, advocacy for streamlined domestic aquaculture, and FDA requirements for labeling of highly-processed plant-based seafood alternatives.
As the seafood industry continues to navigate the global logistics crisis, it is more important than ever that those in leadership positions at Seattle Fish Company connect with like-minded thought-leaders, such as those in NFI, to share ideas and join together as one voice on industry-wide issues.
NFI’s next in-person meeting will be the Global Seafood Market Conference 2022, January 18-20 at the Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate in Orlando, Florida. GSMC will be the first global, in-person conference for the seafood industry in 24 months.