Ron Rogness will guide renewed focus on sustainability issues

Washington, DC December 1, 2009 The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is expanding its staff of experts with the addition of Ron Rogness as leader of its sustainability efforts.

Rogness body of work has given him a uniquely broad view of the seafood industry. He started his career nearly 30 years ago as a commercial fisherman in Washington State and later in Alaska. As staff economist for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in the 1980s, he witnessed first-hand the development of a system that has been widely praised as the standard in sustainable management. In his purchasing roles at Long John Silvers and the Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op, LLC, he gained a thorough understanding of the unique challenges seafood procurement presents.

Ron brings a comprehensive view of seafood sustainability, said NFI President John Connelly. He will help us communicate to our customers and even our own industry about some of the vital issues that need focus now and ones that will need focus in the future.

This is Rogness second stint at NFI. In the late 1980s and early 1990s he served as West Coast Government Relations Representative, led NFIs trade and aquaculture committees and was responsible for all resource and market analyses.

The ability to talk to seafood buyers and scientists alike is key to this position and thats what Ron has been doing for three decades, said NFI Chairman Ken Conrad.

With extensive experience as a resource analyst for some of the biggest names in the industry and as a key member of a management and regulatory body, Rogness has developed a sustainability sense that includes a view from both sides of the table.

Sustainability is not just a buzz word for Ron, said Chuck Bundrant, founder and chairman of Trident Seafoods. There are some sad seafood sustainability stories out there and there are some great ones too. Frank talk and real education about whats reliable and whats rhetoric is something that Ron can provide.

For more than 60 years, the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and its members have provided American families with the variety of sustainable seafood essential to a healthy diet. For more information visit: www.AboutSeafood.com.

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Contact Information

Gavin Gibbons
(703)752-8891
ggibbons@nfi.org