两位可持续海鲜行业先锋荣获终身成就奖
两位英国可持续海鲜领域的先锋人物因其在推动英国海鲜供应链从“海洋到餐桌”转型过程中所做出的长期不懈努力而获奖，他们多年来一直在英国著名海产重镇格里姆斯比从事相关工作。
迈克·米切尔（Mike Mitchell）曾在Young’s Seafood公司工作逾30年，以其在企业社会责任与可持续发展方面的贡献而闻名；奈杰尔·爱德华兹（Nigel Edwards）则在Seachill和Hilton Foods担任类似的战略可持续发展职位。两人都是业内最早倡导认证可持续海鲜供应链重要性的代表。
为了表彰他们在推动可持续海鲜采购实践方面的杰出贡献，迈克和奈杰尔在10月22日于爱丁堡历史悠久的Signet Library举行的MSC与ASC英国颁奖典礼上，荣获了由海洋管理委员会（MSC）与水产养殖管理委员会（ASC）共同颁发的“终身成就奖”。
MSC首席项目官Nicolas Guichoux表示：“作为真正的行业愿景者和先驱者，迈克和奈杰尔以其影响力和领导力积极推动MSC和ASC等倡议，帮助我们成长为今天的国际组织。”
ASC首席技术官Ally Dingwall补充道：“在过去二十年中，我们的快速成长和成功离不开他们早期的承诺与倡导。我们衷心感谢他们的持续支持，并高兴地看到他们毕生致力于可持续海鲜事业的努力获得应有的认可。”
尽管他们为行业发展所取得的成绩感到自豪，但两人都清楚地意识到，这一切离不开众多同行的协作，他们也认为这项事业仍远未结束。
迈克·米切尔曾担任Young’s Seafood的CSR及技术总监，后来升任公司高管顾问，向董事会提供可持续发展战略建议，并将他的知识分享给非政府组织和公共机构。
他在获奖感言中说道：“能够获得此奖项我深感荣幸。虽然我是海鲜可持续发展议题的早期推动者之一，但若没有多年来众多同仁的支持与鼓励，我无法走到今天。
“在这个充满不确定性的新纪元中，气候变化否认论日益普遍，对科学的不信任也在被有意传播，我们比以往任何时候都更需要坚守MSC与ASC的核心使命与价值观。”
奈杰尔在1990年代后期主导建立了Seachill在格里姆斯比的先进鲜海产品加工厂，并担任Hilton Foods集团可持续发展总监。他表示：“能够与众多杰出人士共事并成为挚友是我的荣幸。我们把环境保护者与致力于养活世界的人们团结到一起，在非竞争性的合作空间中找到解决方案。我想为MSC与ASC以及那些引领这些组织的人鼓掌，他们推动了食品生产方式的变革。”
Two pioneers of sustainable seafood receive lifetime achievement awards
Two pioneers of sustainable seafood have been recognised for their long and unstinting efforts to support the transformation of the UK’s seafood supply chain, from ocean to plate, while working for decades in Grimsby, the UK’s seafood powerhouse.
Mike Mitchell, best known for his more than 30 years with Young’s Seafood and Nigel Edwards, who performed similar strategic sustainability roles in Seachill and Hilton Foods, were among some of the earliest voices in the industry advocating for the benefits of a certified sustainable seafood supply chain.
In recognition of their contribution to sustainable seafood sourcing practices, Mike and Nigel were presented with Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Marine Stewardship Council Lifetime Achievement Awards at the MSC and ASC UK Awards ceremony which took place at the historic Signet Library in Edinburgh on October 22nd.
Nicolas Guichoux, Chief Program Officer, MSC, said: “As true visionaries and pioneers in their field, Mike and Nigel both used their influence and leadership to champion and promote initiatives such as the MSC and ASC, helping us become the organisation we are today.”
Ally Dingwall, Chief Technical Officer, ASC, said: “Our rapid growth and success over the past two decades would not have been possible without their early commitment and advocacy. We’re sincerely grateful for their ongoing support and delighted to see their lifetime dedication to sustainable seafood so rightly recognised.”
While proud of their roles in moving the industry forward and grateful for this recognition, both men are keenly aware that they couldn’t have achieved what they did alone, nor do they believe the job is anywhere near done.
Mike Mitchell was CSR and Technical Director at Young’s Seafood for many years before taking up an executive role in the company advising the board on sustainability. He also went on to share that knowledge with NGOs and public bodies.
Reflecting on the award, Mike said: “It was a great honour to receive this award, and whilst I was part of a cohort of early movers on the seafood sustainability agenda, I could not have achieved what I have done without the support and encouragement of many others over many years.
“As we enter a new and uncertain age, one in which climate change denial has become normalised, and in which distrust and disbelief of science is being actively encouraged, it is more important than ever that we remain focused and committed to the core mission and values of the MSC and ASC.”
Nigel, who among other things was instrumental in the establishment of Seachill’s state of the art fresh seafood facility in Grimsby in the late 1990’s, and served as Hilton Foods’ Group Sustainability Director, said: “It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with so many great people, including many who have become personal friends. Together, we brought together the interests of those whose primary interest was the environment with those who were focused on feeding the world. Collaborating in a pre-competitive space we were able to find solutions, and I’d like to applaud MSC and ASC and the people leading those organisations for their role in transforming food production.”