MSC Americas is pleased to announce that Mr. Rodrigo Polanco, the organization’s Chile-based consultant for more than two years, has been officially appointed as Manager, Latin America. Rodrigo will continue to focus on fishery engagement, but will also support commercial and communication outreach efforts. He reports to the MSC Americas office in Seattle, WA USA and works with partners throughout South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Move supports growing momentum in the Latin American region
There is significant and growing interest in the MSC program in the region – with eight certified fisheries, five in the full assessment process and numerous other fisheries in various stages of pre-assessment. The creation of a full-time position for Manager, Latin America reflects MSC’s commitment to the region and supports the organization’s strategic planning objectives of supporting interest and participation in the MSC program in key geographic areas important to the global supply of certified seafood.
What the MSC says
“Countries throughout Latin America and the surrounding areas are key suppliers of seafood to global markets and are important players in the worldwide seafood sustainability movement,” said Kerry Coughlin, MSC Regional Director, Americas. “Buyers from around the world are hoping to source more MSC-certified sustainable seafood from fisheries throughout this region. For the past two years as a consultant for MSC Rodrigo has played a pivotal role in engaging and informing various stakeholders about the program. His appointment as Manager, Latin America reinforces our commitment to supporting fishery, commercial, government, NGO and other partners related to Latin America who want to engage with MSC.”
“Rodrigo has done an outstanding job growing and supporting interest in the program over the past two plus years,” said Jim Humphreys, MSC Fisheries Director, Americas. “I look forward to continuing to work with him in engaging with fisheries and increasing awareness of the program in the region.”
“I am very pleased to be a member of the MSC team,” said Rodrigo. “It has been great to see the growth of the program in the Latin American region and greater global integration in regard to sustainability. I look forward to continued engagement with our various partners and to ensuring that fisheries in the region have an opportunity to participate in and experience the benefits of the MSC program.”
About Rodrigo Polanco
Prior to contracting with MSC in January 2011, Rodrigo worked for the Chilean Government in the Under-Secretariat for Fisheries, which he joined in 1996. He worked in several different positions, gaining broad experience in fisheries issues. For four years, he worked in the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Under-Secretariat for Fisheries, where he was in charge, inter alia, of data management and technical support to the process of negotiation of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SP-RFMO). He also served as coordinator of a Chilean fisheries working group for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Rodrigo can be contacted at [email protected].
In addition to Rodrigo’s role as Manager, Latin America, Laurent Viguié will continue to serve as MSC’s representative in Brazil. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Further information
For media inquiries please contact [email protected].