Diverse panel brings expertise spanning fisheries management, retail, food service, supply chains, policy and community engagement
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) today announced the judging panel for its inaugural MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards Canada and US, a distinguished group of Canadian and US experts that reflects the breadth of stakeholders driving progress in sustainable seafood - from fisheries managers to retailers, seafood buyers, chefs, conservation leaders, and industry innovators.
The MSC Awards celebrate organizations and individuals making exceptional contributions to advancing sustainable wild seafood and responsible fishing practices throughout the seafood value chain.
The 2026-2027 judging panel includes:
- Willow Battista, Sustainable Seafood Senior Program Manager, Maritime Blue
- Christina Burridge, Principal, Seabridge Strategies Ltd.
- Sylvain Charlebois, Professor and Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University
- Alison Cross, Director, Fishery Sustainability, WWF-US
- William Galbraith, Fisheries Consultant
- Jason McLinton, President, Fisheries Council of Canada
- Laura Miller, Director of Community Engagement, Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions
- Ari Miller, Executive Chef, Post Haste (Philadelphia)
- John Steinmetz, Senior Manager Business Development, Walmart Seafood
- Rick Stein, Retired FMI Vice President of Fresh Foods and Retail Executive
- Paul Uys, Vice President, Sustainability (Retired), Loblaw Companies Limited
The independent judges will be responsible for reviewing award submissions, ensuring a fair and credible evaluation process.
The MSC Sustainable Seafood Awards recognize leadership, innovation, and measurable progress in advancing sustainable wild seafood across North America. One winner from Canada and one winner from the United States will be recognized in each award category.
The award categories are:
- MSC Sustainable Seafood Retailer of the Year
- New MSC Certified Product of the Year
- MSC Sustainable Seafood Business of the Year
- MSC Fishery Improvement of the Year
- MSC Changemaker of the Year
- MSC Lifetime Achievement Award
Applications and nominations are open through October 31, 2026. Winners will be announced by the MSC in January 2027.
For more information or to submit an application, visit: msc.org/en-us/awards