Presenting companies: GSSI | FAO | Intrafish | Rev Ocean | UNESCO Ocean Decade Data Group | Thai Union | Aker Qrill Company | Young's Seafood (Sofina) | Norwegian Seafood Council | GSA | Social Standards NGO
Seafood is Critical for the Blue Food Transition, yet its Reputation is Under Pressure
Despite the significant benefits seafood offers; nutrition, health, and smaller footprints, the sector’s Social License to Grow is under increasing scrutiny. As global need for sustainable, low-carbon food sources rises, how can we effectively safeguard, enhance, and promote the reputation of seafood to ensure it supports the FAO’s 2050 vision for a sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system?
Chair:
Oyvind Ihle
CEO - GSSI
As CEO of GSSI, Øyvind brings extensive commecial leadership experience in seafood and marine ingredients. He championed innovation, health, and sustainability at BASF Omega-3, DSM/Veramaris, Avramar, and Zooca. With roots in FMCG, Øyvind has also led consultancy efforts to drive organic growth, innovation, and brand strategy.
The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) is a private/public, FAO-backed platform benchmarking and recognizing seafood certifications against globally agreed sustainability standards to expand responsible sourcing options, reduce duplications, and drive trust in certifications.
The Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) is a private/public, FAO-backed platform benchmarking and recognizing seafood certifications against globally agreed sustainability standards to expand responsible sourcing options, reduce duplications, and drive trust in certifications.
Speakers
The 2050 Vision for the Blue Transition
José Estors Carballo
Fisheries Officer - FAO
José Estors Carballo is a Fisheries Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), where he leads the Blue Ports Initiative. His work centers on enhancing sustainable fisheries value chains, improving traceability, and building capacity among stakeholders worldwide. Before joining FAO, he served as an Exports Manager in the private sector, overseeing market expansion and product development across Latin America, Asia, and Europe. Holding a background in International Trade and Business Administration from institutions in Spain and the Netherlands, he has developed a comprehensive understanding of the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.
The Social License to Grow from Media's Perspective
Robin Paxton
Editor in Chief - Intrafish
Robin runs a global team of reporters providing news, analysis and commentary on seafood and aquaculture. An international journalist and newsroom leader, he joined IntraFish in January 2024 after nearly two decades with Reuters covering commodities, corporate affairs, politics and conflict in various locations. He spent seven years in the Soviet Union and developed a world-class, digitally enabled global news hub in Bangalore. He is currently based in London.
The Future of Ocean Research for the Blue Economy
Nina Jensen
CEO - Rev Ocean
Nina Jensen is the CEO of REV Ocean and is a tireless champion for promoting environmentally responsible solutions for the world's ocean. She started this position in 2018 after 15 years of positive impact in WWF-Norway (as Secretary-General since 2012). Nina holds a Master’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of Fishery Science in Tromsø, and has a background in communications and marketing from Ogilvy&Mather. Nina is a board member of The Business for Peace Foundation, HUB Ocean, The Brain Tumour Association, Ocean Wise, Project Energy Reimagined, The Polytechnic Society (Polyteknisk forening) and KR Foundation. She was named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2014. She is also on the Council for the Centre for the Ocean and Arctic, member of the steering committee for Friends of Ocean Action and an advisor to the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
PRISM: unlocking certification data for the benefit of the supply chain
David Dietz
GSA
David Dietz currently serves as the Manager of Standards Oversight at the Global Seafood Alliance. He is responsible for guiding the development and revision of all Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and Best Seafood Practices (BSP) certification standards, along with supporting and advocating for GSA’s strategic focus on third-party assurances overall. David holds a Masters of Environmental Management from Duke University, focusing on seafood economics and supply chain sustainability. Prior to GSA, David managed the Economics Program for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.
Ocean Data Sharing - Collaborating for the Blue Transformation
Peter Burger
UNESCO Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group
With a background in civil engineering, Peter Burger has been in various technical and management positions in Fugro, the world’s leading geo-data company. Since last year he has been seconded by Fugro to the Ocean Decade Coordination unit of UNESCO-IOC in Paris as Data & Knowledge Management Officer. In this role he supports the UN Ocean Decade amongst others to improve access to private-sector data. He is coordinating the Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group, established by Fugro and UNESCO-IOC, that comprises leaders from private sector companies representing a wide variety of marine industries, including fisheries, energy, telecommunications and marine contractors. The private sector holds a vast reservoir of valuable ocean data and this working group focusses on the development of frameworks and mechanisms that will accelerate to unlock and facilitate public access to privately held ocean data.
Dagny-Elise Anastassiou
Chief Impact Officer - Ava Ocean
Dagny-Elise Anastassiou is a Norwegian-Cypriot PhD candidate in Marine Biology. She has applied her skills in marine research, conservation, and restoration projects in countries such as Belize, the Cayman Islands and Cuba. Dagny-Elise now uses her education and field experience to oversee Ava Ocean's research and sustainability needs, both locally and internationally.
Panel debate
Moderated by Janicke Eckhoff
Outreach and Key Account Manager - MSC
Taking Sustainability from Ambitious Targets to Delivery
Chris Shearlock
Sustainability Director Europe - Thai Union
Chris Shearlock works as Sustainability Director for Thai Union Europe covering multiple brands and private label customer requirements in Europe. He has worked in food sustainability for nearly 20 years having held positions with UK retailers and food manufacturers before specialising in ambient fish. He holds a degree in Environmental Management and a Masters degree in Strategic Marketing, is a full member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and a Chartered Environmentalist.
The Reputation Turnaround for Antarctic Krill
Ragnhild Dragøy
SVP Sustainability & Product Management - Aker Qrill Company
Ragnhild has worked in Aker BioMarine and now Aker Qrill Company since 2021 and is responsible for RnD and marketing of AQCs feed ingredients. She holds a PhD in chemistry and an MBA in sustainable innovation. She has previously worked as a research director in Nofima, and before that in academia and start-ups on various biotech platforms. Ragnhild has worked extensively with science funding and commercialization, she acts as a mentor for start-ups, participates in EU and national reference teams and holds board positions. Ragnhilds passion is contributing to the realization of sustainable food and feed systems for the future.
