Oct. 6 - WorldCatch News Network - The month of October is National Seafood Month -- and, this year, thanks to donations from the seafood industry, millions of hungry Americans will be able to feed their families a wholesome seafood dinner.

The American Seafoods Group announced that it is donating more than a million seafood meals to feed needy people as part of the Community Catch program, an initiative of the At-sea Processors Association (APA).

APA’s Community Catch program represents a commitment by North Pacific fishermen to increase the seafood industry’s contributions of nutritious products to food banks across America.

The North Pacific ground fishery is one of the best-managed, sustainable and renewable fisheries in the world. American Seafood Group’s "Million Meals Donation" is part of the "Partnerships To End Hunger Program," which is run jointly by Northwest Food Strategies and America’s Second Harvest — the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization, according to a press release. The groups work together to provide healthy seafood protein to hungry Americans.

Burlington Northern and CSX have provided transportation for the program.

Northwest Food Strategies is the largest single source of protein-based foods for hunger relief in the U.S., aside from government aid programs, according to the press release. Working closely with America’s Second Harvest, they provide a logistical support link between the seafood industry and Second Harvest’s nationwide network of food banks.

Second Harvest, a large charitable organization for hunger relief, has a nationwide network of more than 186 certified food banks serving more than 26 million needy Americans. By participating in the At-sea Processors Community Catch program, the American Seafoods Group is able to contribute to feeding the hungry.

According to Bernt O. Bodal, CEO, American Seafoods Group, “The American Seafoods Group recognizes the need for more responsibility on the part of corporate America, and we are proud to partner an effort by leading charitable organizations in America that will help save millions of hungry children and adults.

"We have the best managed fisheries in the world, with a comprehensive monitoring system to ensure that these fisheries operate as a healthy, sustainable and renewable resource," Bodal said. "This makes it possible for the American Seafoods Group to continually support worthy programs like the Partnerships to End Hunger.”

Seafood is rich in dietary protein and other nutrients essential to growth and development in children. Through the "Million Meals Donation," American Seafoods helps supply people who are hungry with a protein-rich meal and vital nutrients important to development. More than 240,000 pounds of fish sticks are being distributed to 10 food banks in New England, New York City, Baltimore, Miami and Washington DC. This translates into 1.2 million 3-ounce meals. The American Seafoods Group, headquartered in Seattle, WA, is comprised of American Seafoods Company and American Seafoods International. The American Seafoods Group is a native Alaskan- and American-owned company and one of the world’s leading at-sea seafood processors, according to the press release.

It operates fishing vessels that harvest and process pollock and cod in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska. For the "Million Meals Donation," the fish were harvested by the crew of the F/V Katie Ann, owned and managed by the American Seafoods Company.

American Seafoods International is a value-added processing and marketing company based in New Bedford, MA, where the production team processed the fish into fish sticks for donation to the food bank program.

With the most advanced at-sea catcher-processing fleet in Alaska and the U.S. West Coast, according to the press release, The American Seafoods Group offers its customers a plentiful and stable supply of the finest quality fish processed on board its ships for unparalleled quality. The focus and mission of American Seafoods Group is to provide high-quality, frozen-at-sea products “From the Ocean to the Plate™”. As a leading American seafood company, according to the press release, The American Seafoods Group is committed to environmentally safe harvesting practices. The groundfish fisheries in the U.S. North Pacific are among the world’s best managed fisheries. Harvest limits are set at levels considered conservative and sustainable over the long term.

Based on sound scientific data and a comprehensive monitoring system, the pollock and cod fisheries off the coast of Alaska are maintained as a healthy, stable and renewable resource. In this way, according to the press release, American Seafoods can play an active part in important programs like the Community Catch Program and Partnerships To End Hunger.

For more information on the Partnerships To End Hunger program, or how you can help out in your community or local food bank, please contact Northwest Food Strategies on their website at Northwest Food Strategies, the American Seafoods Group at American Seafoods Group, At-sea Processors Association at American Seafoods Group or America’s Second harvest at At-sea Processors Association.

You can also direct any questions or obtain more information from Karl Hansen at 1-800-343-8046, ext. 100. Or write to American Seafoods Group, Andrea Gillis at Marketplace Tower, 2025 First Avenue, Suite 1200, Seattle, WA-98121

American Seafoods Group donates meals to needy