On Thursday, the National Seafood Marketing Coalition (NSMC) will brief the U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus on seafood jobs in United States and the importance of the seafood industry to the country’s economy.
The discussion will center on the opportunities and challenges the industry faces in increasing U.S. jobs. Bruce Schactler, director of the NSMC, will lead a panel of economists and industry representatives.
Also addressing lawmakers are Phil Lansing, a seafood economist with Analytical Consulting; Dr. David Veal, executive director of American Shrimp Processors Association; Natalie Webster, director of American Albacore Fishing Association and U.S. Pole & Troll Albacore Fishery; Jack Brooks, president of J M Clayton Co.; and Dane Somers, executive director of the Maine Lobster Council.
This comes about two-and-a-half weeks after Schactler, Lansing and others held a conference at the International Boston Seafood Show underscoring the importance of the seafood industry to the nation’s economy. The U.S. senators — Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski, both of Alaska — participated in the discussion. Click here to read the story.
Established last September, the Oceans Caucus, which is co-chaired by Murkowski and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, is working to increase awareness and find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts.
Thursday’s briefing, which is open to the public, will be held in Washington, D.C., at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 366, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
