Washington, DC – For the first time in its 66 year history, a Canadian is at the helm of the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the largest seafood trade association in the U.S. A native of Nova Scotia, Henry Demone is the President and CEO of Lunenburg-based High Liner Foods Inc. Demone’s election to NFI chairman illustrates the global nature of the seafood community.
Demone’s new fellow NFI officers include Vice Chairman Chris Lischewski of Bumble Bee Foods, Treasurer Sean O’Scannlain of Fortune Fish Company, and Secretary Judson Reis of Gorton’s.
Demone sees his chairmanship as an opportunity for the entire seafood industry to come together and evolve as a group.
“Inside a single company, you benefit from top performers in key roles. But through a trade association, you can draw resources from top performers inside multiple companies. It doesn’t matter if they’re in Canada, the U.S., Asia or the EU. That’s a structure and dynamic the NFI Officers look forward to building on,” said Demone.
“Henry Demone is a respected leader in our worldwide seafood community,” said NFI President John Connelly. “He takes over at a time when polling from the Global Seafood Market Conference shows our industry is confident about the future and interested in growth.”
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, seafood consumption worldwide reached an all time high, with an average of about 37 lbs. per person. Globally, seafood has never been so popular or helped employ so many. In the U.S. alone, the industry contributes to more than 1 million jobs and more than 100 billion dollars in sales.
“As an industry, we are evolving, growing and embracing worldwide opportunities,” Connelly said. “Henry Demone and the other officers provide us the leadership to engage industry, ensure fisheries continue to be well-managed, and provide opportunities for well-run aquaculture to help meet American families’ demand for nutritious seafood.”
For more than 60 years, the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and its members have provided American families with the variety of sustainable seafood essential to a healthy diet. For more information visit: www.AboutSeafood.com.
Source: National Fisheries Institute