Todd Clark, vice president and partner of Endeavor Seafood, completed his term as chairman of the McLean, Virginia-headquartered National Fisheries Institute (NFI) on January 21. He was succeeded by Frank Dulcich, president and chief executive officer of Pacific Seafood Group, during the trade association’s Global Seafood Market Conference (GSMC) in Orlando, Florida.
Over the years Clark (seen at right in photo above with NFI President John Connelly at the conference) has served as the Institute’s secretary, treasurer and vice chairman, and is a founding member of its Economic Integrity Taskforce. NFI is the USA’s leading national non-profit fisheries organization dedicated to education about seafood safety, sustainability and nutrition.
During Clark’s term as NFI chairman, the organization made solid progress in advancing economic integrity in the industry, developing innovative ways to advocate for the seafood sector, as well as identifying new regulatory and scientific opportunities and challenges.
Clark will continue to provide the NFI with expertise as past chairman, while focusing his attention on the GSMC, which he helped found in 2011. The Conference provides valuable market information on fishery resources, markets and government regulations.
“It is critically important to stay engaged with NFI, especially with continual changes occurring in Washington, and the uncertainty around those constant changes,” said Clark. “NFI plays a crucial role in keeping our industry well represented and well informed in this very rapidly changing environment. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as chairman for the past year.”
He continued: “As a global conference, GSMC is developing and implementing a strategic plan to ensure the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture, with the potential for healthy growth of the seafood business as a whole. I’m excited to be involved with it because of the unique strength that comes from a worldwide membership with a science-based approach to stewardship of seafood stocks. The Conference is on the leading edge of fisheries data and management.”
For more than two decades, Clark has regularly made thoughtful presentations on global fisheries resource issues at the annual, invitation-only World Groundfish Forum. He continues to hold a seat on the Forum’s governing council. In addition, he is a frequent speaker for industry-related organizations and events.
“Todd has been a valued partner for a decade and never more so than this year – one of lots of change for the seafood community. He provided us steady guidance about how to approach issues, the importance of staying connected to our members, and urging us to continue to think globally. While no longer the NFI chairman, we look forward to Todd’s continued ideas on our work,” said NFI President Connelly.
Clark’s experience in the seafood industry spans more than 30 years. Prior to founding Newport, Rhode Island-based Endeavor Seafood, he worked in centralized seafood purchasing and merchandising for US Foods. Clark also developed a strong knowledge of the global seafood industry through sales and procurement positions with Alba Specialty Seafood Company and Long John Silver’s Restaurants.
