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By | General, Version 2017

Susan Alcorn, B.S.
CoC Auditor

Susan Alcorn joined the MRAG America’s Seafood Sourcing Certification team in 2015 as a contract auditor. Now, as a regular staff member, she conducts chain of custody auditing for the MSC, ASC and RFM standards as well as private sustainability sourcing standards. Susan’s ability to work with our Russian clients helped our client base increase substantially. Her auditing expertise was also instrumental to the process of achieving RFM certification. Susan holds a BS degree in Microbiology from Oregon State University. In her spare time, Susan enjoys gardening, hiking and travel.

Carolina Vargas, Social Accountability Auditor and QMS Manager

By | General, Version 2017

Carolina VargasCarolina Vargas
Social Accountability Auditor and QMS Manager

Carolina Vargas Hernandez joined MRAG Americas in 2021 and is now a Social Accountability Auditor and QMS Manager in our Certification Division. She is responsible for developing our Social Accountability and Auditing Program in Fisheries Supply Chains, leading certification audits under the Fairness, Integrity, Safety, and Health (FISH) Standard for Crew, supporting Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) to meet Human Rights and Social Responsibility policy, and providing support on other projects with social compliance components.   Carolina has over 12 years of experience in social compliance, sustainability consulting and auditing across different sectors with a history in commitment to social and environmental stewardship, such as Apparel: Sumerra, Social & Labor Convergence, IT: Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), Agriculture: Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), Sedex – SMETA and FISH Standard for Crew. She has trained and provided technical and capacity-building support for auditors, suppliers, and scheme owners in the Americas. She has completed more than 500 audits for Responsible Supply Chain Audits against Social and Security schemes across the industries (Agriculture, Manufacture, Food, Tech, Transportation, Warehouses, 3PL). Her certifications and completed courses include APSCA Certified Social Compliance Auditor (CSCA), Social & Labor Convergence Verifier (SLCP), Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), SMETA Auditor, PVH, ISO 14001, and SA8000.

MRAG Americas

By | General, Version 2017
 

MRAG Americas

MRAG Americas is a private consulting and auditing company focused on activities that support the conservation of marine and freshwater ecosystems through responsible, rational and sustainable use of fish and other aquatic resources. Our work is spread over four Client Service Divisions: the Fisheries Technical Division; the Certification Division; the Sustainable Seafood Initiatives and Auditing Division; and the Fisheries Monitoring Division.

 

Fisheries Technical Division

Fisheries Technical Division projects focus on applying established and novel scientific methods to support the sustainable management of fisheries and effectively communicate science to varied audiences.

 

Certification Division

Our Certification Division undertakes independent audits of commercial fisheries and supply chains against third party sustainability standards, including the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) and the FISH Standard for Crew. We also undertake Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) and other activities that assist fisheries on their path towards full certification.

 

Seafood Sustainability Initiatives and Auditing Division (SSIAD)

In the Seafood Sustainability Initiatives and Auditing Division we conduct individualized assessments of supply chain risks and sustainability, including independent verification and traceability exercises; this is evidence-based work to support informed choices by businesses and consumers.

 

Fisheries Monitoring Division

Observer programs and Electronic Monitoring and Electronic Reporting (EM/ER) are integral to the sustainable management of many key fishery resources. MRAG manages these programs globally to collect essential data on commercial fishing activities.

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Global Experience

MRAG Americas is part of the family of MRAG companies that includes MRAG Ltd and MRAG Asia Pacific.  Our expertise has been utilized for more than 30 years in designing and implementing integrated resource management systems in over 60 countries.  MRAG Americas offers a strong capability to respond rapidly and effectively to needs in the Americas region.

Publications

MRAG scientists are highly published in peer-reviewed journals and symposium proceedings, have presented invited papers at international meetings, and write large scale reports for governments and NGOs.

Guidance and Tools for Traceability in Fishery Improvement Projects

By | Education and Training, Featured Projects, General, General MRAG, News

Guidance and Tools for Traceability in Fishery Improvement Projects | Publications | WWF

MRAG Americas helped WWF put together this guide. WWF has produced this comprehensive guide to help Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) practitioners and stakeholders work successfully with the issue of seafood traceability to achieve improved FIP outcomes and encourage transparent and responsible practices across the fishing industry.

FIP Traceability Guidance Doc is now live and posted on WWF’s website, which can be found here:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/guidance-and-tools-for-traceability-in-fishery-improvement-projects

 

Erin Hrastar, Manager, SSIAD

By | General, Version 2017

Erin HrastarErin Hrastar, BA
Manager, SSIAD

Erin Hrastar joined MRAG in November of 2020 as a Seafood Sourcing Audit Coordinator, delivering independent audit services to the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). After nine years of living and working in the Virgin Islands where she was a business owner and volunteer for St. John’s National Park, Ms. Hrastar is now working for MRAG Americas, based in St. Petersburg, FL.  Ms. Hrastar earned a BA from Colorado State University and is proficient in several different facets of business including budget and bookkeeping, communications, product acquisition, and inventory.

MRAG assists with alignment of seafood certification and ratings schemes

By | General, News, Version 2017

Jill Swasey, MRAG America’s Director of Fisheries Technical Division, served as the key analytical consultant in the development of a new report that combines data of five leading sustainability NGOs for first time.

To learn more about the report and the Certification and Ratings Collaboration supporting the work, visit: SeafoodSource and Certification and Ratings Collaboration

Benjamin Hannah, Senior Manager: CoC Certification

By | General, Version 2017

Ben HannahBenjamin Hannah
Senior Manager: CoC Certification

Benjamin Hannah joined MRAG Americas as a Seafood Sourcing Auditor in 2019.  He is now a Senior Manager in our Certification Division covering Chain of Custody certification. He plays a central role in the maintenance of MRAG Americas’ accreditation as a Conformance Assessment Body. Other activities include completing MSC, ASC, and RFM CoC audits. Benjamin graduated with a BS degree from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in May of 2018. His studies were focused on Marine Science where he worked on bivalve mollusks and aquaculture.  Benjamin originates from a commercial fishing family and has spent the majority of his life commercially fishing and practicing sustainability.