Remarks by David A. Sampson
Deputy Secretary of Commerce
2005 Seafood and Health Conference
Washington, DC
Wednesday, December 7, 2005

(As Prepared for Delivery)

 

Thank you, Admiral Lautenbacher, for that very kind introduction. Good morning to all of you. On behalf of President Bush, a very warm welcome to Washington to all our guests from around the country, and around the world.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) consistently sponsors some of the most important gatherings, conferences, and symposiums with some of the best thinkers and experts in the world.

So I’m delighted to have a few moments to visit with you today as you wrap up your deliberations on this increasingly vital health issue. I want to personally thank you for your leadership on accurately informing consumers on the role that seafood plays in a healthy diet. I expect we’ll see a lot of progress in the weeks and months ahead as you make use of what you learned this week.

President Bush is a strong advocate of living a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise. Encouraging more people to live healthier lifestyles, as he and I see it, is a very important role for government officials to play. And it is the ultimate goal of this conference. And I thank you for your efforts.

While we know there are many health benefits to eating seafood, recent media reports about the risks of certain seafood products are muddying the waters, and confusing consumers. To help sort out some of the confusion, the Department of Commerce and NOAA are proud to co-sponsor this international conference.

Seafood is also a major global industry for many nations. In the U.S., the commercial seafood industry contributes nearly $32 billion per year to our economy, and employs over 135,000 people. We’re also one of the biggest seafood traders in the world, importing $12 billion per year and exporting over $3 billion.

Aside from the economics, nutritionists and researchers continue to tell us there are tremendous health benefits to eating seafood. And consumers are listening. Figures released last month by the Department of Commerce show that Americans consumed a record 16.6 pounds of fish and shellfish per person in 2004. That’s two percent more than in 2003.

So it’s in our best interest to manage this resource effectively by using sound science and best practices, and by working with the many international scientists and policymakers here this week to give consumers the best and most accurate information possible.

It’s clear from the past two days of discussion that research points to the fact that people around the world should be eating more seafood. Some of the most compelling science concerning seafood and health is related to the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular health.

As the leading cause of death for Americans, heart disease claims the lives of 400,000 to 460,000 people in this country each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Seventy million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. These figures are staggering. And the impact on peoples’ lives, and our health care systems, is immense.

I understand that you have heard from some of the world’s top researchers on the benefits of seafood. You heard that it can help fight not only heart disease but a number of other illnesses, including cancer, inflammatory disease, and Alzheimer’s. You also heard the latest research showing that Omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood can reduce the risk of ADD and ADHD in children.

Today, you will focus on the risks with consuming seafood. There are risks associated with many kinds of foods and beverages, so it makes sense that we fully consider and understand potential problems with seafood.

Much is already known about the benefits, but we need to know more about the risks. How big are they? Are we better off eating seafood, or not? We need to get the facts straight so we can answer these questions. That way, consumers will be fully informed, and know about the benefits and understand the risks as well.

You will learn more about contaminants identified in seafood, such as methyl mercury. Do such contaminants pose a health risk to humans? How should they influence consumer decisions?

Answers to these and other questions are urgently needed. The worldwide demand for seafood is growing. Recent U.S. federal health guidelines call for an increase in seafood consumption. To meet that rising demand, producers are responding in the wild harvest fishing industry as well as in aquaculture. To strengthen these industries we need a strong scientific understanding of the health effects of seafood.

That makes your work all the more important because we need a firm scientific foundation on which to develop fisheries and aquaculture worldwide. It is my hope that what is learned at this conference will help achieve this goal.

The Bush Administration recently submitted legislation to Congress on aquaculture that calls for the use of strong scientific methods. It is essential for that bill to advance.

We need to embrace the idea of integrating the science that has been developed along two very different tracks—risks and benefits—into a single global framework that results in better government policy and informed consumer choice.

If we fail to effectively integrate good science using risk-benefit analysis, it can lead to unnecessary world trade disputes or other problems that would deny world consumers access to the seafood that is so essential to their health.

In closing, let me underscore that the U.S. government supports the excellent work that you are doing, and the discussions taking place at this very important international conference.

All of us at the U.S. Department of Commerce, especially in NOAA, look forward to working with you as we tackle what I see as one of the greatest health and quality of life issues of the 21st century.

Thank you very much for inviting me to speak.

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