Edward R. Cassano
PO Box 3151
Monterey, CA
Email: ecassano@ercconsulting.net
Tel: (831)594-6637
EDUCATION
University of Washington, Seattle, WA - 1995
M.S. Marine Affairs
Southampton College, Southampton, NY - 1982
B.S., Marine Biology
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2010 – Present Founder, President
ERC Consulting, Monterey, CA
• Founded consulting services for developing and implementing sustainable seafood sourcing polices and
programs for retail, foodservice, distributors and primary producers of wild capture and aquaculture seafood
• Created FishSense™, a metric designed for seafood distributors to measure the sustainability ranking of
their seafood products according to the leading indicators of sustainability
• Provide education, outreach, marketing, public relations, and staff training programs to assist seafood
businesses with sustainable seafood sourcing programs.
• Design and implement traceability and audit systems supporting leading measure of sustainability.
2006 – Present Founder, President
Integrated Marine Education Research Expeditions (InMER), Monterey, CA
• Created the InMER model of social change which integrates science-based information and data into social
marketing, public relations campaigns, policy dialogues, educational programming, and public outreach to
impact societal behavior, influence business strategies and affect government policies
• Designed and implemented major donor and grant writing programs, raising over 300K to support inaugural
InMER projects, with Single largest individual donation 100K
• Designed and published fundraising materials for corporate, foundation and individual fundraising program
• Developed web site to support organizational development including fundraising activities
• Led aerial expedition to the high arctic on climate change – aired on National Geographic Wild Chronicles
• Participated as one of ten conservation organizations providing content for the launch of Google Oceans
2008 – 2010
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Senior Director, Department of Conservation Outreach, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA
Oversaw annual budget of 3.2 million and a staff of 18; served as a member of the senior executive team for
5-year strategic plan development
Directed Seafood Watch, an international, science-based program using public salience and market-based
approaches to transform the global production of seafood to favor more sustainable practices
Served as inaugural steering committee member for the Packard Foundation’s Conservation Alliance for
Seafood Solutions, a collaborative model involving fifteen North American non-profit environmental
organizations focused upon influencing the market to support sustainable seafood
Conceived, executed, and published “Turning the Tide – The State of Seafood”, a peer reviewed scientific
publication describing the global state of seafood targeted at both traditional and non-traditional media
Working with development team, generated grant proposals to foundations resulting in significant annual
funding (≈2.0 million) for Seafood Watch. Single largest grant was a multi-year 1.8 million dollar grant from
the Packard Foundation
Supported fundraising activities by participating in major donor events, membership outreach activities and
corporate sponsorship development
Developed and implemented partnerships and collaborations with major foodservice and retail corporations
including Whole Foods, Target, Aramark, and Compass Group North America
Secured six figure corporate support for Seafood Watch Program
Conceived and led new international sustainability initiatives including work with the Icelandic and Chinese
governments to address marine conservation in fisheries management, aquaculture production and market
evolution and expansion
Innovated new approaches to influence individual choices to favor conservation – including linking the
Seafood Watch program to the U.S. public’s interest in health
Edward R. Cassano
Résumé Page 2
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2004 – 2006
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2002 – 2004
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2000 – 2002
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Attended national and international conferences (e.g., 2009 American Dietetic Association conference; 2009
Sustainable Seafood Summit and 2009 China Seafood Show Sustainable Seafood Forum) as an invited
speaker
Served as the national media spokesperson on sustainable seafood conservation issues
Developed, supported and implemented policy and advocacy campaigns on marine protected areas, marine
debris, sea turtles, white sharks, tunas and sea otters
Vice President, Exhibits and Programs, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA
Oversaw annual budget of 6 million, and a staff of 70
Directed Education Division - maintained and enhanced over 40 different educational programs, annually
serving over 180,000 K-12 students and generating over 400K in revenue
Directed Husbandry Division - managed 11,000 animals, representing nearly 500 species, featuring 19
habitats in 32 focus exhibits including: exploring the waters of Southern California and Baja, the Northern
Pacific, and the Tropical Pacific
Directed Exhibit Division - Created and managed the installation of a state-of-the-art multi-media exhibit
titled “A Journey with Giants” which transformed the Aquarium’s Great Hall into a new exhibition space.
Collaborated with development staff on fundraising activities to support major gift, grant writing and
member programs. Elements included grant development and writing, donor relations, membership
campaigns and support programs
Authored two National Science Foundation grant proposals for major initiative on customization of a guests
visit experience to the aquarium
Vice President, Exploration and Expeditions, Jean Michele Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society,
Santa Barbara, CA
Oversaw annual budget of 2 million, staff of 10
Developed multi-year, multimillion dollar funding requests including the design and program development
on a global conservation initiative
Integrated science and policy into innovative expedition based media efforts to influence public and federal
policy by reestablishing and modernizing the Cousteau team
Co-directed and led the premiere, 2-hour, high-definition film expedition to the Northwest Hawaiian
Islands, which aired on PBS in April 2006 and was previewed by President George W. Bush, leading to his
establishment of the Northwest Hawaiian Island National Monument
Facilitated the modernization of the Cousteau team in the use of technical diving techniques including semiclosed and closed circuit re-breathers and extended range and mixed-gas diving
Executive Director, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara, CA
Oversaw annual budget of 3.5 million, staff of 12;
Led the museum through annual and multi-year strategic planning
Directed museum opening including development of a retail store, education, and volunteer and public
outreach programs - ultimately leading to the development and growth of museum into a thriving, multidisciplinary, free choice learning institution serving tens of thousands of visitors each year
Developed and nurtured a strong working relationship with the Board of Directors including the
completion of one capital campaign (several million dollars raised) and the development and launch of a
new capital campaign (5 million raised)
Developed grant writing program with outstanding results including securing 250K in federal support.
Developed a membership program and campaign
Cultivated strong donor relations with individuals, foundations, and government sources resulting in
contributions in excess of 7 million dollars
Established the Museum as the broadcast site for Dr. Robert Ballard’s Jason XIV project, creating significant
national exposure for the institution
Edward R. Cassano
Résumé Page 3
1986 – 2000
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Commissioned Officer and Lieutenant Commander
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Sanctuary Manager, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Santa Barbara, CA (1996-2000)
Annual budget 1.75 million, staff - 12
Recruited and lead a team of passionate, highly educated individuals to achieve some of the largest marine
conservation gains for the U.S. at the time
Established Channel Islands as an important local, regional and national conservation asset via innovative
public relations and community development campaign
Created collaborations and partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, local and national
conservation organizations and user groups. Formalized these relationships by establishing the Sanctuary
Advisory Council, a 20 member community-based advisory board
Developed joint state and federal process marine reserves in the sanctuary which resulted in the nation’s
first network of no-take reserves in a temperate ocean. This process served as the model and pilot for the
State of California Marine Life Protection Act thus creating the nation’s first state-wide network of MPA’s.
Created and fostered innovative research and monitoring programs by developing a state-of-the-art research
vessel, an aerial monitoring program, GIS-based science and public decision making tools
Provided feature interviews on marine related stories and events for Good Morning America, CNN, NBC,
ABC, CBS, FOX, Extra, Los Angeles Times, London Times, Ventura Star, Santa Barbara News-Press,
NPR, BBC live interview, KCLA, National Geographic, Skin Diver Magazine, Outdoor Magazine
Graduate School, University of Washington, School of Marine Affairs, Seattle, WA (1994 – 1995)
• Completed master degree in Marine Affairs on U.S. and International Ocean and Coastal management
Commanding Officer and Executive Officer, NOAA Ship John N. Cobb, Seattle, WA (1991-94)
• Annual budget 3 million, staff of 8
• As executive officer, was responsible for ship’s management and liaison with scientific staff. As
commanding officer, was responsible for ship’s safe operation, management and the success of science
mission
• Conducted multi-disciplinary marine research operations in Southeast Alaska including extensive fishing
operations to characterize fish stocks, marine mammal investigations and the study of emerging salmon
populations
• Successfully modernized the ship’s scientific and navigation capabilities
Ecologist, Dolphin Ecosystem Group, NOAA Fisheries, La Jolla, CA (1989-91)
• Managed endangered sea turtle research program
• Participated in a successful pelagic turtle satellite tagging study - the first in the world
• Served as science cruise leader for 35 day research cruise throughout the eastern tropical Pacific.
• Served as a principal investigator on the use and effects of seal bombs on dolphins in the tuna fishery
Officer, NOAA Ship Miller Freeman, Seattle, WA (1986-89)
• Participated in fisheries and oceanographic investigations in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska
• As senior watch officer, was responsible for ship’s operation during designated watch. Operations included
extensive fishing, oceanographic and marine mammal and seabird investigations
• Research techniques included the use of bioacoustics to establish fish stock estimates, deployment of
moored sensing arrays, deployment and retrieval of oceanographic instrumentation to assess water column
characteristics and census of living marine resources
1982 – 1986
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Scientific Watch Officer, Sea Education Association, Woods Hole, MA
Managed laboratory and instructed college students in oceanographic methodology and research at sea.
Managed laboratory and trained other scientific watch officers
Sailed on six cruises of six week and two week duration
Operational areas include extensive sailing in the Caribbean Sea
Provided college level instruction in biological and physical oceanography, at sea sampling techniques and
ship operations
Edward R. Cassano
Résumé Page 4
1982 - 1983
1983
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Deck Hand, Dirigio Cruises, Clinton, CT
Served as deck hand aboard the traditional rigged sailing vessels Rachael and Ebenezer and Harvey Gamage
Sailed extensively in US and British Virgin Islands
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U.S. Fisheries Observer, National Marine Fisheries Service (contracted), Seattle, WA
Served as a U.S. Fisheries observer aboard a Japanese fishing vessel operating in the Bering Sea
Monitored compliance to U.S. fishing regulations and conducted extensive biological sampling of catch
SPECIALIZED TRAINING
License and Certifications:
United States Coast Guard: Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage (inactive)
SCUBA Diving: YMCA, PADI Dive Master, NOAA Working Diver, Dive Master
Advanced Nitrox, semi-closed and closed-circuit re-breather and extended range
Professional Development:
Leadership Foundations, Steven Covey – 2010
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey – 2009
UCLA Nonprofit Leadership Program – 2007
Executive Officer Seminars – 1991 & 1992
Purchase/Procurement Training – 1991
Personnel Management – 1996
ASSOCIATIONS
Past Board Member, Historical Diving Society – Strategic Planning and Fundraising – 2007-2011
Member, Advisory Board, Wildlife Care Network, Santa Barbara – 2009-Present
Board Member Co-Chair, Capital Campaign Wildlife Care Network, Santa Barbara responsible for
fundraising of million dollar foundation gift – 2006-2009
SPECIAL AWARDS
Honored by U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps for Marine Conservation Work – 1998
Honored by California Coastal Commission for Leadership in Coastal Management – 1998
Invited by Congress to attend the Presidential Ocean’s Conference in Monterey, CA – 1996
Recognized by the Center of Marine Conservation for Leadership in the Nation – 1999
Twice Awarded Silver Medal from the Department of Commerce for Heroism – 1988 & 1999
NOAA Corps Commendation Medal – 1994
Special Achievement Awards, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – 1998, 1993 & 1994
Received Prestigious Directors Award, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – 1990