After more than 25 years of service, American Seafoods’ Bernt Bodal is retiring, the company announced on 31 May.
Bodal will step down from his role as chairman of American Seafoods’ Board of Directors as part of his exit, but, as an equity holder in the firm, he will remain a member of the board once his retirement goes into effect.
A noted leader and innovator, Bodal was responsible for leading American Seafoods through an era of immense change, including the formation of fishing cooperatives in both the U.S. Pacific hake and Alaska pollock fisheries. Such cooperatives were integral to the company dramatically increasing its product recovery rates. They also allowed cooperative members to form a unified front to further reduce their already small amount of bycatch of other species, according to American Seafoods.
“American Seafoods sincerely appreciates Bernt’s contributions as both an officer and leader of the company,” American Seafoods CEO Mikel Durham said. “Bernt is one of the true pioneers of what are among the most sustainable and well-managed fisheries in the world.”
American Seafoods is one of the largest seafood companies in the United States. Based out of Seattle, Washington, it owns and operates six state-of-the-art catcher processors. It sells its frozen-at-sea products across global markets in various formats ranging from fillets, surimi, roe, and block product offerings, made from Alaska pollock, Pacific whiting, and Pacific cod.
