US seafood groups celebrate National Seafood Month with promotions, program launches

An image of National Fisheries Institute's promotion for October 2024
The National Fisheries Institute is running its annual October campaign, featuring unique recipes, a seafood blog, and TV ads, among other initiatives | Image courtesy of National Fisheries Institute
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The National Fisheries Institute (NFI), Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP), and other seafood organizations have promotions running throughout October for National Seafood Month and National Pescatarian Month.

NFI’s annual National Pescatarian Month campaign encourages consumers to eat fish and shellfish through an updated e-cookbook that includes more than 100 pescatarian-friendly recipes. The campaign also includes NFI’s Dish on Fish blog, on-air TV segments, and digital and social media activations.

“We view National Pescatarian Month as a win for our members, for the fish and seafood industry, and for consumers, and we are proud to promote it through Dish on Fish and its sponsorship of the campaign,” NFI Vice President of External Affairs and Councils Brandon Phillips said. “Some of our most important work throughout the year culminates in October, when we all work together to celebrate a healthy and tasty pescatarian diet and lifestyle.”

Through its blog and recipes, NFI aims to “show that adopting a pescatarian lifestyle – for a few weeks, a month, or even longer – can be healthy, versatile, easy, and satisfying,” NFI Registered Dietitian Rima Kleiner said.

SNP is expanding its successful Fall in Love with Seafood campaign, partnering with Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based Publix during National Seafood Month. At more than 1,375 Publix stores throughout the U.S. Southeast, visual aids will aim to showcase the health benefits seafood offers, SNP Founder and President Linda Cornish said.

“We are excited to bring this consumer campaign to market during National Seafood Month,” Publix Seafood Director Guy Pizutti said in a press release. “We are proud to highlight seafood and messages that resonate with our customers.”

Cornish is urging SNP members and others to join her in her personal “8 is Great Seafood Omega-3s Challenge” throughout October. 

The challenge requires participants to eat seafood at least twice a week per the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 

“This is roughly eight to 12 ounces of seafood per week, depending on your height and weight,” Cornish said.

Research shows that an omega-3 index level, which is a blood test that measures the amount of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cells, of 8 percent to 12 percent is linked to better health outcomes for general wellness, along with heart, brain, eyes, and joints, Cornish said. 

Also in October, the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance has launched the Gulf Commercial Fisherman Program (GCFP), an initiative aimed at recruiting and training the next generation of commercial fishing deckhands in the Gulf of Mexico.

The program is designed to equip deckhands with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry, the organization said in a press release. 

“The GCFP embodies the spirit of National Seafood Month: sustainability, resilience, and tradition,” it said. “As the seafood industry continues to face workforce shortages, the GCFP provides a community-based solution by training future generations to continue the proud tradition of Gulf fishing while supporting sustainable growth.”


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