SANTA CRUZ, Calif.–Blue Horizon Wild retained Edward Cassano of ERC Consulting to act as its senior vice president and director of sustainability to help ensure the company is at the forefront of sustainable seafood and responsible sourcing practices. Cassano has more than 25 years experience in ocean conservation and is considered an expert in the seafood supply chain.
“There are incredible complexities in today’s seafood industry, especially in the emerging category of sustainable seafood" said John Battendieri, founder and COO of Blue Horizon Seafood. “Ed will enable Blue Horizon Wild to expand our network of responsible fisheries and ensure our sources are maintaining fishing practices that protect and restore healthy fish populations."
As the former senior director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Conservation Outreach Division, Cassano directed its Seafood Watch Program, a recommendation guide to help consumers and businesses make seafood choices which support healthy oceans. He led the program’s major seafood buyer initiative and established partnerships between leading seafood distributors, retailers and foodservice companies in the United States.
“To restore the oceans and ensure thriving marine ecosystems, the seafood industry has to support those fisheries and the fishing communities that maintain responsible fishing practices and management systems," Cassano said. “These fishermen need innovative companies, such as Blue Horizon Wild, to bring their products to market and offer sustainable choices to retailers and their customers."
Cassano is the owner and principal of ERC Consulting, a company primarily focused on assisting all sectors of the seafood supply chain to deploy sustainable seafood initiatives. He participated on the leadership committee of the Alliance for Seafood Solutions, a collaborative effort of 15 leading environmental organizations working on sustainable seafood in North America, and is also the founder and CEO of Integrated Marine Education and Research Expeditions, a nonprofit focused on building sustainable communities in North America. Cassano’s previous experience includes opening the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum as its executive director, serving as vice president of explorations & expeditions for the Ocean Futures Society, serving as vice president of programs and exhibits at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and 14 years as a commissioned officer with the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
Source: Blue Horizon Wild
