Ocean Strategies is a public affairs firm specializing in seafood, fisheries and marine resources.
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Expo Opportunities
Like most things in fisheries and seafood this year, the schedule for Expo is a little unusual, but the events at and around the show will deliver all the opportunities we need to gather, gear up, and set the stage for the year to come.
We’re here to help you navigate the schedule, events and opportunities with ease.
One thing we’re noting is the wide range of attendees from all over the country this year. If you are a fisheries and working waterfront stakeholder from Southern California or the Gulf of Mexico, Expo also offers the chance to speak in person to staff from NOAA Aquaculture, which is set to release the draft EIS for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in these regions in the next week. Reach out to our staff or find us on the show floor for more information.
REMINDER: Register before the event for FREE. Otherwise, there is a small registration fee on site.
Thursday is Conference Session Day
Here’s our suggested itinerary:
Workforce Development on America’s Working Waterfronts
10:45 at the Main Stage in the Alaska Hall
Expansion of access to marine trade, harvester and other working waterfront professions is a tide that lifts all boats. In this session, attendees will hear from fishing and marine trade leaders who are running and launching programs to open our waterways for young people and training them to take on leadership roles in the industry. We’ll cover what’s working, and what has brought additional challenges to maintaining and growing this critical workforce.
Moderator
Hannah Heimbuch, Ocean Strategies
Panelists
Andrea Tomlinson, New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance
Eric Brazer, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance
Maité Duquela, National Future Fishermen’s Coalition
Deb Granger, Northwest Maritime Apprenticeship
Linda Behnken, Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.
Michael Nelson, Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara
Commercial Fisheries and Seafood in at the USDA: Possibilities, Opportunities, and a Call to Action
12:45 at the Main Stage in the Alaska Hall
This panel session will delve into the diverse opportunities for the USDA to support the seafood and fisheries industry, focusing on industry collaboration and marketing initiatives. We will explore how the USDA can leverage its resources and expertise to address the unique challenges facing the seafood sector, promote sustainable practices, and enhance the overall marketability of US seafood products. Panelists will discuss potential avenues for USDA support, including research and development, technical assistance, and marketing programs, highlighting the importance of industry engagement in shaping these initiatives.
Moderator
Noah Oppenheim, Homarus Strategies
Panelists
Joshua Stoll, University of Maine & Local Catch
Linda Behnken, Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association
Buck Jones, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
Alaska Seafood Market Updates and Opportunities
2:45 at the Main Stage in the Alaska Hall
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and McKinley Research provide a marketing update on the Alaska seafood industry. Learn about where Alaska’s catch is going, the value at home and abroad, and how the pandemic and global economics create challenges and opportunities for Alaska seafood.
Alaska Symphony of Seafood presented by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
3:30 at the Main Stage in the Alaska Hall
AFDF is celebrating the Alaska Symphony of Seafood, an annual competition for commercial-ready, value‐added products made with Alaska seafood. The Symphony is an exciting platform that supports company investments in product development. The initiative helps promotion of new products and competitively positions Alaska Seafood in national and global markets. Product development is critically important to the entire Alaska seafood industry and the fishing communities that depend on it.
Moderator
Julie Cisco, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation
National Fisherman Highliner Ceremony
5:00 at the Main Stage in the Alaska Hall
Join us as we honor the 2024 National Fisherman Highliners! An NF Highliner is a career commercial fisherman who is also known for giving back to the industry, locally, nationally or globally. It is no easy task, and as such it deserves recognition. Hear their stories and why they’ve been selected as one of the well-deserving industry leaders holding this Highliner title.
Ocean Strategies publishes seasonal policy reports that deliver analysis, interviews, events and insights on all facets of the American seafood industry for the sustainable seafood supply chain — including grocers, restaurants, distributors, transportation, harvesters and the many other businesses that depend on access to seafood.
