WASHINGTON, DC April 9, 2013 Convention tells us that to be considered a pioneer you need only be among the first to engage in any one pursuit. On a day when we mourn the passing of Murry Berger the seafood community celebrates a true pioneer who was in many aspects of the modern industry the first.

Few people can claim to have started and led an industry. It is important to recall that Murrys vision of creating trade partnerships in Asia predated the internet, regular flights between America and China, and even diplomatic relations between the countries.

His leadership extended to his nearly 40 years at the helm of the Fisheries Scholarship Fund (now the Seafood Industry Research Fund), which he helped start and build into a major source of funding for seafood-related research.

As a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, former chair of the National Fisheries Institute and the scholarship fund, businessman, philanthropist and true pioneer Murry Berger will be missed.

John Connelly
President, National Fisheries Institute

NFI is the leading trade association for the fish and seafood industry whose members represent a variety of businesses ranging from the water to the table. For more information visit our Web site at www.AboutSeafood.com.