Bob Desautel, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Global Seas and Nina Fisheries, has been selected to serve as chairman of the board for the Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP), replacing outgoing chair Mikel Durham of American Seafoods.
GAPP CEO Craig Morris said Desautel has plans to redouble previous efforts to increase industry investment in the nonprofit focused on promoting wild Alaska Pollock in major whitefish markets worldwide.
Desautel was an active harvester in the North Pacific from 1978 to 2000. In 1994, he co-founded Nina Fisheries, which expanded globally to Chile and Argentina four years later. In 2001, Desautel co-founded Global Seas, a subsidiary of Nina Fisheries, which became one of the West Coast’s premier vessel management companies.
Under Desautel’s direction, Global Seas expanded its business operations on the East Coast as co-owner of seafood processing company Norpel, and in the maritime research field as owner and operator of the r/v Mt. Mitchell.
Desautel also has served in leadership roles in the North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners Association and United Catcher Boats. He has a current U.S. Coast Guard (issue no.7) Masters 3000 ITC License.