NFI CRAB COUNCIL WORKING GROUP MEETS IN BALTIMORE
NFI Crab Council Working Group meets in Baltimore. The National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council met in Baltimore, Maryland October 5th and 6th as part of its working group meeting series. The group last met in person in 2019 where it developed detailed units of assessment, to track Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIP), and endorsed the used of the Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) method to quantify and monitor progress.
“Our members are committed to crab sustainability and meetings like this illustrate that,” said Ed Rhodes the NFI Crab Council’s Executive Director. “It’s heartening to see so many companies get together for two days, put their work on hold, and really dig into the science. These folks want to know how each FIP we sponsor is doing but more importantly they want to look ahead and help determine what we do next.”
Experts from the University of Washington and the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology addressed the group.
“After presentations, discussions and debates the group is moving forward with recommendations about everything from policies to pilot projects,” said Council Chair Brice Phillips. “The volume of material and the amount of progress made in just two days is terrific. It’s hard to overstate the value of these meetings.” Phillips Foods hosted the meeting at its Inner Harbour location.
Representatives from Handy International, Supreme Crab, Bumble Bee, Crustacea, Chicken of the Sea, Phillips and NFI all participated.
About the NFI
The NFI Crab Council is a group focused on crab sustainability. As an association of U.S. seafood companies, the Crab Council recognises the importance of maintaining successful crab fisheries for international businesses as well as local economies.
Since 2009, the Crab Council has practiced industry led stewardship, influencing crab management through funding fisheries improvement projects and market leadership. Throughout six countries in Asia, they sponsor sustainability projects to preserve crab as a popular, plentiful seafood item as well as an important economic resource for dependent livelihoods. In collaboration with in-country partners and key stakeholders, the Crab Council develops practical sustainability measures that address fishery needs through scientific, social and financial channels.
Their efforts have received support from major funds, foundations and financial institutions and their model of funding the majority of their efforts through a self-imposed tax on imported crab has trail blazed a new form of privately spearheaded sustainability work. The NFI Crab Council believes that market demand is the most effective tool for changing in-country catch practices and creating viable stock levels. Their mission is to support initiatives that produce larger sized crabs and more abundant harvests, ensuring that U.S. consumers receive affordable and responsibly sourced crab for years to come.