The Increasingly Important Role of Seafood, Wild Fisheries, and Aquaculture in a Changing World | American Blue Economy Podcast

In this month's episode, host Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet (ret) discusses fisheries and seafood, one of the most sustainable and healthy forms of protein. From a food security standpoint, seafood will be critical as our world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, nearly 2 billion more than our current population. For the US, seafood is a huge part of our economy but we have a $16.8 billion seafood trade deficit. Additionally, over 85% of the seafood we consume is imported, and half of those imports are raised in foreign fish farms. Our fisheries are also under threat, so we’ll address how advanced technologies and partnerships will help us optimize sustainable yields of wild caught fisheries, expand contributions of domestic aquaculture, adapt to climate change, and combat the negative effects of one of our greatest challenges - illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. With the following first-rate panel members, we will explore the extraordinary opportunity that sustainable seafood and domestic aquaculture present for our post-pandemic economic recovery: Anthony Dal Ponte, General Counsel, Pacific Seafood Group. Dr. David Kerstetter, Associate Professor, Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Kelly Lucas, Associate Vice President for Research, University of Southern Mississippi, and Director of the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center in Ocean Springs MS. Bill Michaels, CEO and Founder, Michaels EcoAssociates, and former Director of NOAA’s Fisheries Technology Program. Lori Steele, Executive Director, West Coast Seafood Processors Association.