Mr Perkins joined the MSC’s senior management team on 5 January. He will work alongside the organization’s Chief Executive, Rupert Howes and Global Commercial Director, Nicolas Guichoux.
Mr Perkins will also work closely with industry and the conservation community to recognise and encourage sustainable fishing practices that support healthy marine ecosystems.
Mr Perkins will be based in Washington D.C. at a new office location that will serve as the MSC’s Americas region headquarters. The MSC’s Seattle office will be retained as its USA headquarters.
Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the Marine Stewardship Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome Brian, who joins the MSC as our first Regional Director for the Americas under a revised and newly implemented regional structure. Brian has a unique blend of skills and experience that will enable him to lead the team in their drive to add value to partners. He brings a wealth of knowledge which will help us to expand both the supply and demand of certified sustainable and fully traceable seafood throughout the region. I am very much looking forward to working with Brian over the coming years.”
Working with American fisheries
Globally, more than 245 fisheries are certified as sustainable against the MSC’s robust standard for environmentally sustainable fishing. These fisheries meet strict science-based criteria for sustainability so that the MSC ecolabel can be displayed on their products, assuring consumers that they are purchasing seafood from a sustainable source. Together they are responsible for around 10 per cent annual global harvest of wild capture fisheries.
Around half (53 per cent ) of fisheries in the USA and two-thirds (62 per cent ) of Canadian fisheries are engaged with the MSC program. Together these fisheries account for 3.2 million metric tons of seafood caught every year. A further 370,000 metric tons originate from fisheries engaged with the MSC program in Latin America.
Brian Perkins, Regional Director Americas, stated: “Working for the MSC is a great opportunity to make a difference within an industry which has been such a big part of my life. I join the team at an exciting time and look forward to working with fisheries, commercial partners and conservation organizations. The MSC team has established the gold standard for third party certification of wild fisheries and I believe that continued growth of the program will bring both environmental and socio-economic benefits to the Americas.”
In his position as Regional Director Americas, and as part of an internal restructure of MSC’s Americas region to focus more deeply on specific geographies, Brian will oversee Programme Directors and their teams in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
