The Conch Podcast features interviews
with the most inspiring women in the world of seafood.
Join Julie Kuchepatov,
founder of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE),
as she interviews women striving
to succeed in the sector, as well as those already making an impact,
and the challenges they face -
all while working to improve
the environmental and social responsibility
of the planet’s most incredible food source - seafood!
In Episode 4 of the Conch Podcast, Julie is joined by Adriana Sanchez, the Responsible Seafood Strategy Director at Iberostar Hotels and founder of Seafood Ninja, a sustainable seafood consultancy.
At the end of the day, seafood is about people and Adriana is a tireless advocate for the underdog - be they small-scale fishers and producers or small seafood companies. She is always working to ensure that everyone, no matter their size, has access to sustainable seafood conversations and opportunities and the right tools to engage.
Episode Transcript
Episode Guide
:00 Intro
01:25 Adriana’s illustrious journey in seafood sustainability starts at her family’s seafood business and leads her to her current role as responsible seafood sourcing director at Iberostar Hotels.
06:20 The pandemic hit hotels hard. Iberostar Hotels used this time to define and strengthen their Wave of Change Movement, which rests on three pillars: Lifting up Local, Responsible Seafood, and Coastal Communities.
10:11 Frozen in Time: Adriana’s team uses the pandemic to reimagine their menus and engage their suppliers in order to meet their responsible seafood commitment during this incredibly challenging time.
12:23 The Forgotten Fisheries: Small scale fisheries that don’t produce high volumes or commodity species should be engaged because livelihoods depend on it.
15:05 How do you balance the need to address environmental and social issues with the realities of small-scale producers where the margins are tiny and the demands are huge? (HINT: Retailers need to invest in fisheries where change is needed.)
20:45 Seafood Ninja, Adriana’s sustainable seafood consultancy and alter ego, is here to democratize access for small companies to sustainable seafood conversations and engagement with nonprofits and industry driving change in seafood production.
27:00 Is the seafood industry the ultimate patriarchy?
32:12 Unpopular opinion: Women in the seafood industry need to step up and be mentors to young women entering the business.
34:57 Leaving a legacy for conscious consumers - Adriana’s role as mother prepares her and her children for a bright future.
36:58 The seafood industry is FUN! Attention Hollywood, Adriana is available to star in your next reality show!
39:00 The seafood industry is not just about dead fish - there is a world of possibilities where you can satisfy your personal and professional passions.
Resources:
Check out @seafoodninja on Instagram and find tools to support your company’s journey in seafood sustainability at seafoodninja.com.
Make sure to recommend this episode to anyone you think might care about the future of our ocean and women working in the sector.
The Conch Podcast series is a program of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE) and made possible by generous funding from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Audio production, engineering, editing, mixing, and sound design by Crystal Sanders-Alvarado for Seaworthy. Original music provided by Satan’s Pilgrims.
The Conch Podcast is a program of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE).
Audio production, engineering, editing, mixing, and sound design by Crystal Sanders-Alvarado for Seaworthy.
Theme music: “Dilation” by Satan's Pilgrims
Funding generously provided by
