The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
Help us identify Champions who are helping the ongoing recovery of America’s fishing industry and fishing communities.
Fishing is one of our nation’s oldest and proudest professions. Each day, long before the sun rises, thousands of men and women head out to sea. Others go off to repair boats and fishing equipment, or chill refrigeration trucks that will deliver fresh and healthy seafood to Americans’ tables.
America’s fishers, and our seafood industry, have fed Americans and their families since our nation’s beginning. What’s more, this industry remains critical to the economic health and well-being of communities across the country.
After decades of decline, we are witnessing the economic and ecological recovery of America’s fishing industry. Overfishing has hit an all-time low, and many stocks are returning to sustainable levels. The U.S. fishing industry contributed nearly $200 billion annually to the American economy in 2014 and supports 1.7 million jobs.
This shift did not come easy. It took hard work, collaboration, and sacrifice by many across the country. Although there’s still more to do, America’s fisherman have led the way to the United States becoming a global leader in sustainable seafood management.
This turnaround is a story about innovative ways to catch fish and other seafood sustainably, and connect fishers with their customers. It is a story about the value of science and management working together, and a willingness to make sacrifices today for a better tomorrow. And it is a story about sustaining a proud livelihood that is the backbone of so many coastal communities nationwide.
President Obama and his Administration want to honor America’s fishers and our coastal communities for their efforts.
This is your chance to nominate someone you know and admire for contributing to the ongoing recovery of America’s fishing industry and our fishing communities as a White House Champion of Change for Sustainable Seafood.
Nominees may include:
- Fishers who are leaders and innovators in promoting sustainable fishing practices.
- Seafood purveyors, processors, chefs, and other business owners who have created new opportunities for economic and ecological prosperity.
- Innovators in the field of mariculture who are committed to sustainability and development in this growing domestic seafood sector.
- Community leaders who are providing opportunities to recover and build sustainable local fishing economies.
Click the link below to nominate a Champion of Change for Sustainable Seafood by Friday, September 9, 2016 at 11:59 PM (ET). Select “Sustainable Seafood” as your theme of service.
We look forward to hearing stories of change by people in your community.
