The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) has announced it will be giving its 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award to one of its founding members, Bill Herzig.
Herzig will receive the award at the GAA’s GOAL 2015 conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on 29 October.
“Bill Herzig and I have worked together in the seafood industry for more than 40 years, principally at the business operations level,” said GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens. “His forward thinking has led to innovation within every company, and his involvement in pre-competitive activities at GAA and (The National Fisheries Institute) has benefited the entire global seafood community.”
Herzig began his career with 23 years at Rich-SeaPak, in St. Simons, Ga. He worked his way up to senior VP of operations, procurement, quality assurance and commodity sales before taking a position as director of seafood purchasing for Darden Restaurants in 1997. Two years later, he became VP of seafood purchasing, and later became president of Darden Aquafarms, a lobster aquaculture facility in Malaysia.
In its announcement, the GAA described Herzig as “instrumental” in the forming of the GAA in 1997.
“This is the most satisfying thing that I have ever been involved in. We did it because it was the right thing to do, and so many have joined the cause,” said Herzig. “As a result, the aquaculture industry now has the fundamentals in place to achieve the vision laid out three decades ago in the Blue Revolution.”
GAA President George Chamberlain remembered Herzig’s commitment to the GAA.
“From the very beginning, Bill Herzig has passionately and unselfishly devoted himself to GAA. The organization would not exist today were it not for him,” said Chamberlain. “With his astute judgment, broad influence, business skills and leadership by example, he pulled us back from the brink of bankruptcy, guided us decisively through contentious issues, and marshaled a strong network of long-term supporters. Bill never asked for, nor allowed, proper recognition for his efforts. He worked his miracles quietly and unselfishly, like the silent hand of an angel.”
