NGO and Marine Conservation Science Leaders Receive New Appointments to ISSF Committees

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) announced today that Dr. Tom Pickerell of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is the new Chair of the ISSF Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC) and that Dr. Andrew Rosenberg of the Union of Concerned Scientists joins the ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

Dr. Tom Pickerell is the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) Global Tuna Director responsible for SFP’s tuna work program, including the global fresh and frozen tuna supply chain roundtable and canned tuna program. Before joining SFP, he worked for Seafish, where he was the Technical Director. Previous to that role, Dr. Pickerell was the Senior Science Manager for the Seafood Watch program at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Earlier, Dr. Pickerell worked at WWF UK as the Fisheries Policy Officer and at Defra, where he held a variety of different policy and strategy roles in fisheries and aquaculture. He has a degree in Marine Biology, a master’s degree in Analytical Biology and a Ph.D. in shellfish aquaculture. Dr. Pickerell joined the ISSF ESC in July 2018. He replaces Jennifer Dianto-Kemmerly, of Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, as Chair.

“Dr. Pickerell’s leadership experience at some of the foremost environmental NGOs has made him an excellent resource for the ESC,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “We are honored and thankful that he and SFP are keen to increase their engagement with ISSF by assuming this leadership role.”

Dr. Andrew Rosenberg is director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Rosenberg’s more than 25 years’ experience in government service and nonprofit leadership includes leadership roles at Conservation International and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Dr. Rosenberg was a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Ocean Studies Board and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. He is a professor of natural resources and the environment at the University of New Hampshire, where he previously served as dean of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, and is the author of many peer-reviewed studies and reports on fisheries and ocean management. Dr. Rosenberg received his Ph.D. in biology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, and previously studied oceanography at Oregon State University and fisheries biology at the University of Massachusetts.

“Dr. Rosenberg is a force to be reckoned with, and we’re honored to have him join the Scientific Advisory Committee,” said ISSF President Susan Jackson. “His experience in government and nonprofit leadership, research and academia make him a true triple-threat, with a combination of experience, credibility and expertise.”

Dr. Rosenberg previously served as a member of ISSF’s Environmental Stakeholder Committee.

Committee Experts Advise ISSF Board of Directors

The ISSF Board receives input and information from formal and informal partners — environmental stakeholders, marine scientists, fishers, and vessel owners — who share insights from the field.

The ISSF Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) comprises some of the world’s leading marine and tuna fisheries scientists. The SAC guides ISSF’s research priorities and supports its technical reports, notably the annual Status of the Stocks report and online interactive tool. ISSF’s Environmental Stakeholder Committee (ESC) includes representatives from conservation organizations. Members of the SAC and ESC volunteer to share their expertise with ISSF.