Dear Friends,

2021 was a pivotal year for the Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) and for the seafood sector as a whole. After seeing a broad coalition successfully come together as the Seafood4Health Action Coalition to amplify the Eat Seafood America! consumer-facing campaign in 2020, we saw an opportunity to scale SNP’s mission to help consumers understand the public health benefits of seafood through a National Seafood Marketing Campaign. The last national seafood marketing campaign took place over 30 years ago.  In 2021 we formed the National Seafood Council Task Force to galvanize the seafood industry around the formation of such a National Seafood Marketing Campaign. I am excited about the momentum across the seafood sector for growing the awareness of the public health benefits of eating more seafood.

The value of SNP came into full focus during the pandemic as consumers rushed to learn more about the health benefits of seafood. I strongly encourage the entire seafood sector to support a National Seafood Marketing Campaign because this has the potential to revolutionize the way the seafood sector interacts with the American consumer. The seafood industry needs to tell its own story with consumers and share the wonderful progress made collectively on sustainable seafood, seafood nutrition science, and the essential value of seafood to our health, planet’s health, and future food security.

I want to thank the Board of Directors for working diligently on the SNP mission and demonstrating bold leadership in these times. I want to acknowledge SNP’s Scientific Nutrition Advisory Council chaired by Dr. Tom Brenna. Our science council is the bedrock of the work conducted at SNP and they provide the seafood industry the confidence to communicate the healthfulness of eating seafood. Last but not least, I thank all of our valued donors and partners for making our work possible. 

Dear Friends,

2021 showed us the power of coming together and how we can impact health through seafood nutrition. I truly believe that seafood nutrition can be a solution to many of the global challenges we face today: public health, climate change, and future food security. Through our collective work, we are raising awareness of the essential role of seafood nutrition in dietary pattern advice such as the USDA and HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the FDA Seafood Advice, UN Sustainable Development Goals, and Blue Food Assessment. 

Evidence-based science is the foundation of SNP’s mission and work. In 2021, members of our Scientific Nutrition Advisory Council (SNAC) and staff were invited to present to the FDA regarding its seafood advice. We are grateful that our recommendations helped emphasize the strength of science on the health benefits of seafood consumption for children’s brain development. The SNAC also hosted a successful 5th Annual State of the Science Symposium for both in-person and virtual attendees.

We continued to conduct the Eat Seafood America! consumer-facing campaign launched in April 2020 to encourage Americans to buy and eat sustainable seafood for health and to support the U.S. seafood community. This campaign is supported by the Seafood4Health Action Coalition of over 45 non-profit organizations and 9 retailers. This campaign has generated over 1.6 billion impressions to date and serves as an example of a potential national seafood marketing campaign.  

In 2021, SNP formed the National Seafood Council Task Force to educate the industry and policymakers on the public health benefits of eating seafood and the merits of educating American consumers on the health and nutritional benefits of eating seafood. 38 seafood companies joined the National Seafood Council Task Force to encourage industry peers to support the formation of a National Seafood Marketing Campaign.

This work is only possible through the support of our valued donors, partners, staff, and volunteer Board of Directors, Scientific Nutrition Advisory Council, Ambassadors, Seafood4Health Action Coalition, and NSC Task Force. Together we are making a positive difference in the lives of Americans through seafood nutrition. I am so thankful to be on this health journey with you!

• 915,902,048: Total Communications Impressions 
• 800%: Return On Investment from SNP’s pilot digital marketing campaign to encourage consumers to buy more seafood at retail that reached 4 million households.
  • Consumers were 3 to 4 times more likely to eat seafood more often and 3 times more likely to eat seafood twice a week or more after seeing the Eat Seafood America! campaign.
• 26,000+: Registered Dietitians Reached To Date

• 51: New recipes on our website. SNP creates recipes year-round that both connect to the latest consumer trends, are timeless, and are always delicious. Did you know that these recipes are free for our partners to use?
• 38: Seafood companies joined the National Seafood Council Task Force to encourage industry peers to support a National Seafood Marketing Campaign.
• 45: Non-profits and seafood industry supporting organizations collaborated as part of the Seafood4Health Action Coalition alongside 9 retail partners

Eat Seafood America!

• This initiative, launched in April 2020, has more than 45 partners coming together in 2021 with a mission to help Americans stay healthy and support the working waterfront communities impacted economically by the pandemic. Eat Seafood America! reached more than 1.6 billion impressions in 2021 and had support from 9 retail partners across the country. 
• A fall 2021 pilot campaign, highlighted how Seafood Is Simple. Healthy. Delicious., with collaboration with retailers across the country, resulted in 800% ROI.

The Eat Seafood America! initiative was supported by funding from the Builders Initiative, Walton Family Foundation, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, NOAA Fisheries, HEB, Rich Family Foundation, and Chilean Salmon Marketing Council.

Seafood Makes a Splash with the Wellness Shopper

Healthy eating “is the leading driver for seafood growth,” said Jessica Miller RDN, CDE, nutrition communications manager at the Seafood Nutrition Partnership.

The Seafood Nutrition Partnership’s “Stay Strong with Seafood & Family Meals,” campaign earned a Gold Plate Award from FMI – The Food Industry Association. The campaign coordinated family meal promotional efforts with more than 45 organizations and 9 retail partners through the Seafood4Health Action Coalition toolkit, which included graphics, blog posts, and other resources geared towards family meals, reaching 83,200 individuals.

Educational Webinars

In two engaging and educational webinars, SNP (virtually) brought a select group of influential dietitians to a salmon farm and to cook alongside SNP ambassador Chef Todd Mitgang of NYC’s Crave Fishbar. The two interactive events educated RDs on sustainable aquaculture practices and offered delicious new seasonal salmon recipes. Thank you to our sponsors, Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Global Salmon Initiative, plus delicious salmon from Ora King and Secret Island Salmon.

FDA/EPA Guidance Emphasizes Children’s Brain Development

SNP staff and the Scientific Nutrition Advisory Council conducted two listening sessions with the FDA and EPA about their seafood advice for women and young children and provided them with recommendations on how to communicate the guidance. Subsequently, the departments released updated Advice about Eating Fish, which emphasizes the health benefits of seafood for this audience. It is accompanied by new graphics and handouts that for the first time emphasize the importance of seafood for children’s brain development and take several of our recommendations.

5th Annual State of the Science Symposium Hybrid

The 5th Annual State of the Science Symposium presented by SNP’s SNAC provided the latest information on seafood nutrition science, including human nutrition and environmental sustainability, addressed by leading experts. This program was underwritten by Co-Title Sponsors: DSM, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, NOAA Fisheries; Platinum Sponsors: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Veramaris; Gold Sponsor: StarKist; Silver Sponsors: GOED Omega-3, Sustainable Shrimp Partnership, Vital Choice Wild Seafood & Organics

NSC Task Force Expert Working Group Meeting

In September, the NSC Task Force brought together an Expert Working Group to provide education and insight towards the structure, governance, operations, and funding of a future National Seafood Council. The Initial Findings Report was released in December.