Earlier this week, the International Boston Seafood Show was bumping.
Although many exhibitors at the show were hailing the wonders of farmed seafood, the aisles also boasted a wide range of wild U.S. products.
The purveyors of the latter may get a second boost from the show, or rather from progress toward a National Seafood Marketing Coalition that took place at events surrounding the show.
While the coalition's Alaskan founders were on the East Coast, they knocked on some doors and potentially allied themselves with Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Barney Frank (both D-Mass.).
When I saw the first inklings of the coalition coalescing about a year ago, I hoped against hope that something would come of it.
Many of us have seen some great efforts go into groups that speak for U.S. fishermen as a whole but end up floundering or on hiatus because it's a huge uphill battle.
But one certain area of expertise for Alaska fishermen and processors is marketing.
This industry as a whole has a lot to learn from them and so much to gain from a unified approach to marketing.
The coalition now has 65 organizations backing their efforts, and I am excited to see what comes in the next stages.
No other country can boast this bounty of wild sustainable seafood. And if nothing else, Americans ought to know that. You've already cornered the market. Now it's time to make your move.
If you are interested in joining the group, you can find the National Seafood Marketing Coalition on Facebook or via email at [email protected].
Thank you for your time.
Jessica Hathaway
Editor in chief, National Fisherman
www.nationalfisherman.com
