Michael Rubino, who has served as director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture since 2011, is moving into a new role where he will develop markets for U.S. seafood products and work to expand domestic aquaculture production.
The appointment was announced on April 29 by Paul Doremus, deputy assistant administrator for operations at NOAA Fisheries.
Rubino’s priories will be expansion of U.S. acquaculture production through partnering with seafood companies, fishermen, seafood farmers, scientists, government agencies, tribes and others to adoption sustainable aquaculture practices, and to develop new markets for wild capture fisheries.
“He will also identify market opportunities for U.S. fishery products with an emphasis on economic returns on investment and synergies between domestic wild-caught fisheries and aquaculture,” Doremus said. “With this appointment NOAA Fisheries has positioned itself to more fully engage in every aspect of the value chain for U.S. seafood and aquaculture.”
Before joining NOAA Fisheries, Rubino, who holds a doctorate in natural resources from the University of Michigan, led development of international agribusiness, environmental and renewable energy investment funds at the World Bank.
