Bill Bloom, founder of Eastern Fish Co. in Teaneck, N.J., and an iconic figure within the U.S. seafood community, passed away on Monday morning, according to the National Fisheries Institute.
Bloom became a member of the National Fisheries Institute in 1974 and served as the organization’s chairman more than a decade ago, a position held by his son Eric in 2008. He was an avid supporter of the Fisheries Scholarship Fund, which is dedicated to sponsoring research on the positive health and economic impacts of the seafood community.
“Bill’s tutelage and high energy personality were instrumental in the creation and growth of numerous seafood companies that prosper today. Bill’s industry leadership lives on in his family and in his commitment to quality, aquaculture certification and providing American families healthy meals,” said NFI President John Connelly in an e-mail notification to NFI members.
“The seafood community has lost an innovator, a tough business man and an advocate. Bill will be missed,” he added.
Eastern Fish is now one of the nation’s largest shrimp importers, bringing in more than 60 million pounds of the product annually from 15 different countries, according to the company’s website.
