1. Thor Lassen - President, Ocean Trust*
Award-winning foundation and trade association director with 30 years
experience in marine resource industry and public private partnerships on
environmental, sustainability, restoration, education and research initiatives.
Experienced public speaker with strong record in national and international
program development; partnership building across diverse sectors;
association/foundation management; government, congressional and public
relations; communications; sustainability certification; vessel safety; crisis
management and resolution; marine research and resource enhancement.
Executive Management
 CEO for several national trade associations and nonprofit marine science and educational
foundations conducting research and restoration projects throughout the US and Mexico coastal
regions with responsibility for all aspects of nonprofit business management (i.e., finances, fund
raising, taxes, personnel, contracts, communications, public relations, project management, etc.)
Public & Government Relations
 Led national commercial fishing safety program for vessel owners and insurance underwriters,
and public and Congressional debate on the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Act 1983-1989
 Led regional policy changes in DOC/NOAA regulations to support US investments in fish
production facilities as transition towards full resource utilization in Atlantic fisheries 1983-89
 Led legislative initiative to keep management of bluefin tuna in jurisdiction of the International
Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas through East Coast Tuna Association 1983-89
 Managed congressional and constituent issues before Merchant Marine & Fisheries Committee
for committee member in US House of Representatives, Paul Trible (R-VA) 1980
 Organized New England concert and special event with musician Bruce Hornsby generating
multi-media news coverage throughout the region promoting under-utilized marine fish species
 Produced video documentary on marine conservation with Billy Joel and Peter Matthiessen
Issue Management & Resolution
 Established Science & Sustainability Forum with professional fishery science organization to
address NGO concerns and claims on the status of global fisheries and sustainability of seafood
 Established communications and conservation programs for seafood industry to restore
endangered sea turtles in Gulf of Mexico ending NGO boycott on wild shrimp products
 Established mangrove habitat research and restoration projects to address concerns with shrimp
aquaculture impacts on coastal environment during NGO “Rainforest Shrimp” initiative
 Provided guidance to major restaurants/retailers on swordfish policies during “Give Swordfish
A Break” campaign allowing for continued sale and swordfish conservation during boycott
 Established program to fund enforcement and monitoring for legal sea bass fishery during
“Take a Pass on Sea Bass” campaign targeting illegal international Chilean sea bass fisheries
 Assisted in recertification of Mexican compliance with US import requirements for shrimp
 Assisted Mexican shrimp importers resolve NGO boycott tied to endangered marine porpoise
 Managed contracts/development of int’l seafood safety HACCP program for seafood industry
Communications & Policy Forums
 Organized Luncheon Forums for US Friends of Norway Congressional Caucus and Embassy of
Norway on Marine Resource Trade Policy, Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture 2004-05

2.  Organized multilateral (US/Canadian/Norwegian) research, management, technology and trade
forum on marine fisheries with the Norwegian Embassy, NOAA, Canada DFO, Iceland 2003
 Organized international science workshop on Acoustic Fish Stock Assessment Technology
 Recognized as Best Presentation at World Aquaculture Council on conservation in aquaculture
 Organized State of Fishery Forums for Int’l Boston Seafood Show; presentations at North
Atlantic/Nordic Council of Ministers Conference, Smithsonian Institute Fisheries Forum, etc.
Public Private Partnerships
 Established sustainability programs for retail/restaurant chains like Bonefish Grill, HEB, etc.
 Established conservation and/or cause marketing programs to address environmental campaigns
with companies like Safeway, Long John Silver’s, Legal Sea Foods, Whole Foods Market
 Established 20+ public/private restoration, enhancement and research partnerships throughout
the coastal US and Mexico advancing sustainable fisheries, wildlife and coastal ecosystems
 Coordinated model U.S/Mexico turtle conservation project with industry & government which
built & maintains second largest restoration camp for endangered sea turtles in Gulf of Mexico
 Established public/private partnership for largest estuary restoration project in North America
and managed all aspects of reconstruction project (hydrologic modeling, field engineering,
permitting, construction specifications/management, public relations, government reporting)
Professional Background
Board of Directors, Sustainable Aquaculture Certification Council 2003 - 2010
Founding Director and President, Ocean Trust, a national ocean conservation foundation 1992 -
Executive Director, National Fisheries Education and Research Foundation 1986-92
Executive Director, East Coast Tuna Association 1989-91
Executive Secretary, National Council on Fishing Vessel Safety and Insurance 1983-90
Government Relations Representative, National Fisheries Institute 1983-89
Fisheries Management Council Member/Representative for Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission on New England, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic Management Councils 1981-82
Congressional Fellow, U.S. House of Representatives, Merchant Marine & Fisheries Comttee. 1980
Professional Awards
 Texas State Network Radio Person of the Week for Bahia Grande Project Leadership 2009
 Texas CEQ Award from Governor Perry for Bahia Grande Restoration Partnership 2008
 EPA Gulf Guardian Award for Bahia Grande Restoration Partnership 2007
 US Fish & Wildlife National Wetlands Conservation Award 2006
 Coastal America Award for Bahia Grande Partnership with 60+ public/private partners 2006
 Department of Interior Cooperative Conservation Award for coastal restoration 2005
 White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation Leadership Recognition 2005
 NOAA Environmental Hero Award for fishery, wildlife and environmental conservation 2004
 Seafood Business Person of the Year for development of fishery environmental programs 2000
Education & Personal
William & Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, M.A. Marine Science 1983
University of Virginia, B.A. Environmental Science 1974
Born 1951 Bergen, Norway; Naturalized US Citizen 1958
*Additional information, editorials, articles and references available upon request
11921 Freedom Dr. Ste. 550, Reston, VA 20190 (703) 434-1444 Fax (703) 450-9853 E:tjlassen@yahoo.com