Tim Fitzgerald, the former head of EDF’s global programs on seafood markets, supply chain engagement and fisheries finance, has been named the chief sustainability officer at Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based pollock fishing company American Seafoods Group.
American Seafoods said Fitzgerald will be tasked with driving the company’s environmental sustainability and social responsibility portfolio and shaping new climate and public affairs initiatives.
“Since our founding in 1988, sustainability has been a core value for American Seafoods,” the company said in a press release. “We champion responsible, industry-wide practices and ensure the fisheries we operate in stay healthy for generations to come. Key initiatives span across our entire business, including innovative net design that minimizes bycatch and habitat impact, partnership with federal and local stewardship partners to manage and preserve U.S. fisheries, and streamlined vessel operations that help create one of the lowest carbon footprint proteins on Earth.”
Fitzgerald worked for nearly two decades at environmental non-governmental organization Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where he led their work with investors, multilateral institutions, and the seafood industry to improve the sustainability of global fisheries and aquaculture industries. While at EDF, he served on the boards of the California Fisheries Fund, Ecofish LLC and GulfWild, and was an advisor to Fair Trade USA, Seafood Watch, and the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions.
“I’ve dedicated my career to making our ocean healthier and more resilient, while also helping people and businesses make smart seafood choices that benefit both them and the environment,” Fitzgerald said. “Wild, sustainable seafood is essential to feeding the world, and doing it in a way that protects the ocean and combats climate change has always been my passion. I look forward to building on the strong foundation American Seafoods has already established and helping to chart a course toward an even more sustainable future.”
Photo courtesy of American Seafoods
