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The Obama Administration recently announced that it is looking for candidates to be considered for a sustainable fishing prize.

The White House Champion for Change for Sustainable Seafood designation will honor individuals for “contributing to the ongoing recovery of America’s fishing industry and our fishing communities.”

Nominees may include:

— Fishermen who are leaders and innovators in promoting sustainable fishing practices.

— Seafood purveyors, processors, chefs, and other business owners who have created new opportunities for economic and ecological prosperity.

— Innovators in the field of mariculture who are committed to sustainability and development in this growing domestic seafood sector.

— Community leaders who are providing opportunities to recover and build sustainable local fishing economies.

“After decades of decline, we are witnessing the economic and ecological recovery of America’s fishing industry. Overfishing has hit an all-time low, and many stocks are returning to sustainable levels,” reads a press release on the nominee search.

The U.S. fishing industry contributed nearly $200 billion annually to the American economy in 2014 and supports 1.7 million jobs, according to the White House.

“This shift did not come easy.  It took hard work, collaboration, and sacrifice by many across the country. Although there’s still more to do, America’s fisherman have led the way to the United States becoming a global leader in sustainable seafood management.”

You can send along your nominations for this award up until Friday, Sept. 9.

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Samuel Hill is the former associate editor for National Fisherman. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine where he got his start in journalism at the campus’ newspaper, the Free Press. He has also written for the Bangor Daily News, the Outline, Motherboard and other publications about technology and culture.

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