Newsmakers

Binniker Named Head of NOAA Law Enforcement Office

U.S. Coast Guard veteran James Binniker on Sept. 23 took office as director of the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, which is charged with protecting the nation’s protected marine resources, places and habitats and promoting sustainable fisheries management. Prior to joining the Office of Law Enforcement as assistant director in 2022, Binniker served in the Coast Guard for 26 years. His work ran the gamut of law enforcement, search and rescue, environmental pollution response and maritime security operations on multiple ships and shore-based commands. In his last assignment, as the chief of the Fisheries Enforcement Division in the Office of Maritime Law Enforcement Policy, he oversaw Coast Guard units conducting domestic fisheries enforcement, marine resource protection and counter-IUU ...

Copper River Seafoods Named Alaska Manufacturer of the Year Copper River Seafoods has been honored as Alaska’s Manufacturer of the Year for 2023, with the award being presented Aug. 6 in Anchorage. Copper River was chosen for the honor by officials with Alaska’s Commerce, Community and Economic Development (CCED) department. CCED Commissioner Julie Sande cited Copper River Seafoods, which has offices in Cordova and Anchorage, for its innovation in utilizing seafood byproducts and offcuts. “By ensuring that the entire fish is marketable, not just the prime cuts of every filet, the company has reduced waste and created more value for the Alaska seafood resources they process,” Sande said. Fourth generation harvester Scott Blake and three fellow commercial Alaska fishermen founded the ...

Newsmakers

Ferdinand Named Deputy Director at AFSC Jennifer Ferdinand has been appointed deputy director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, AFSC science and research director Robert Foy announced Aug. 6. Ferdinand, a former commercial fisheries observer, joined NOAA in 1998. In his announcement, Foy praised Ferdinand’s leadership skills, saying she is highly regarded by colleagues, staff, constituents and partners for her ability to bring together disparate groups to build consensus. Ferdinand spent a decade with AFSC’s Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis Division as a debriefer, observer trainer and program manager. In 2008, she became the center planning officer, coordinating the development and implementation of the center’s strategic planning process. In 2018, she became director of the ...

Newsmakers

New CEO Joins Bumble Bee Seafoods Seafood industry veteran Andrew Choe has joined Bumble Bee Seafoods as the San Diego-based company’s chief executive officer. His appointment, effective April 1, was announced by Bumble Bee Board of Directors Chair Jerry Chou. In his statement, Chou said that Choe “has priceless knowledge and expertise in our complex industry and is a people-focused leader with a history of helping talented teams succeed.” For eight years, Choe was CEO of StarKist Co., highly engaged in all aspects of the business, including supply chain management, manufacturing, customer and broker relations, innovation and brand building. Most recently Choe served as CEO for SENSEE World, a company that provides products to help the visually impaired. Choe holds degrees in psycho...