Tom Taylor is the new Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA).
Photo: ACFFA.
The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) has announced it has appointed Tom Taylor as its new Executive Director.
Described as a "highly regarded seafood industry leader", Taylor has over 25 years of experience in aquaculture, and is well-known within the sector in Canada.
“With his deep knowledge and proven commitment to coastal communities, Tom is well-positioned to guide ACFFA in advocating for the responsible growth of Atlantic Canada’s fish farmers and supply chain,” said David Seeley, Interim Chair of ACFFA, in a press release.
“We look forward to his leadership as we continue to champion investment, innovation, and economic development to support strong working waterfronts and add more career opportunities for young people across the region," Seeley added.
Taylor has a long career in the sector, having worked for various aquaculture and feed companies in Canada, including roles in feed production, forecasting, and operational planning teams. He is currently Corporate Feed and Inventory Manager at Cooke Aquaculture's Kelly Cove Salmon, with previous roles at Charlotte Feeds Inc., Northeast Nutrition Inc., and Shur-Gain Atlantic.
He has also served as Chair of ACFFA's board of directors since 2018, in addition to holding board executive roles with the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, Aquaculture Association of Canada, and the Bay of Fundy Business Council, among others.
Describing his ACFFA appointment as "an exciting step in my career," Taylor called fish farming "a vital, ever-evolving industry that provides sustainable seafood and supports thousands of families in Atlantic Canada."
"I look forward to working with the team, our members and partners to sustainably grow the sector as well as the continuation of our award-winning wild Atlantic salmon recovery efforts," he added.
Taylor succeeds outgoing director Susan Farquharson, who led the association for almost ten years. The association thanked her for "her invaluable contributions to the sector", and said that under her tenure the ACFFA had made significance advances in "industry collaboration, public engagement, and advocacy".