Sr. V.P. Michael Mogollon Shares Expertise on Organic Seafood Panel
(Clewiston, Fla…December 15, 2005) OceanBoy Farms, the only commercially viable producer of organic shrimp in the United States, will share its commitment to sustainability and education at the fifth annual Seafood Choices Alliance Seafood Summit, in Seattle, Wash., from Sunday, January 29, to Tuesday, January 31, 2006. The focus of this annual conference of industry and environmental leaders is the global sustainable seafood movement and the future of seafood.
“OceanBoy’s enthusiastic vision of the commercial potential of sustainable aquaculture distinguishes us as a scientific leader in the seafood industry,” says OceanBoy’s president, Steve Walton, who will be traveling to Seattle for the summit. “Our zero-discharge inland production ponds prove that sustainability and environmental responsibility in the aquaculture industry are both necessary and feasible. We are incredibly eager to share our knowledge of environmentally friendly practices with others in the hopes of inspiring change industry-wide.”
Michael Mogollon, OceanBoy’s senior vice president of production and technology, will sit on the summit’s Organic Seafood Panel, moderated by Environmental Defense Senior Scientist Rebecca Goldberg and entitled “Organic labeling for fish.” Mogollon’s extensive experience in the organic seafood industry and with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certifying agencies positions him as an industry expert. Other panelists are Goldie Caughlan, nutrition education manager at PCC Natural Markets in Seattle and outgoing secretary of the National Organic Standards Board and Hugh Raven (not yet confirmed), an advisor to the United Kingdom’s organic certification body, the Soil Association. The panel of global experts will gather before an audience on Tuesday, January 31, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., to discuss the meaning of “organic seafood,” including controversies surrounding organic feed, recycling of wastes and organic certification of both wild fish and fish feed. The presentation will include an update and overview of the USDA’s efforts to establish organic standards for farmed fish.
OceanBoy fully supports the USDA’s move to issue specific organic standards for seafood products and hopes that the National Organic Program task force responsible for recommending such standards will employ only the most stringent interpretation of “organic seafood.” OceanBoy seeks to ensure that all feed for organic shrimp be 100% approved USDA-organic; contains no hormones, medications or preservatives; and that synthetic binders be banned. Further, OceanBoy vigorously promotes the production of farmed seafood via environmentally friendly and fully sustainable methods.
Those interested in scheduling meetings with Steve Walton or Michael Mogollon at Seafood Summit should contact Nancy Civetta at 617-577-8098 or nancy@civettacom.com. For more information or to register for Seafood Summit, please visit www.seafoodchoices.org. The deadline for registration is January 2, 2006.
About OceanBoy Farms, Inc.
Headquartered in Clewiston, Florida, OceanBoy Farms, Inc. is the only commercially viable organic producer of shrimp in the U.S. The company is committed to sustainable methods and providing a healthier and tastier shrimp that is free of antibiotics, preservatives, hormones, and chemicals. With an inland location of over 2,500 acres committed to production, OceanBoy is a zero discharge, 100% contained water system operator that does not pollute or have any negative impact on our oceans. Its shrimp is distributed nationally. For more information, visit www.OceanBoyFarms.com .
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Nancy Civetta
Civetta Comunicazioni
90 Hamilton Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
T: 617/577-8098
F: 617/876-9233
E: nancy@civettacom.com
Chef2Chef News Desk